British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

Thanks for the replies guys. I have tried contacting the LTA via email but I haven't received any response. Hopefully Anna's Dad may be able to give some more information? If not I'll try contacting them again.

JonathanH wrote:

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Saw this on the LTA's website recently. It mentions a Virtus-sanctioned tennis competition for players with a learning disability and autism at the Nottingham Open in 2026:

www.lta.org.uk/news/lta-announces-bigger-and-better-disability-tennis-calendar-in-2026/

Seems like progress for the LTA to be organising a tournament for players with a learning disability and autism that is similar to the Australian Open.

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 Its Virtus events that Anna McB plays and Id imagine shed be involved in this. Good to see it alongside the main Pro event! 

Hi all,

Just seen this and thought it was worth sharing in this thread.

www.itftennis.com/en/news-and-media/articles/itf-signs-mou-with-virtus-to-support-tennis-for-players-with-intellectual-impairment/

The ITF have signed a memorandum of understanding with Virtus. They have also signed one with the International Committee of Sport for the Deaf.

www.itftennis.com/en/news-and-media/articles/itf-signs-mou-with-international-committee-of-sports-for-the-deaf/

Not sure exactly what this means, but hopefully it should be good for Para Tennis. They also signed one in June with the Para-standing tennis world federation.

JonathanH wrote:

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Should we start a new one of these for 2026? I would be interested to know which British players are playing in the Australian Open Intellectual Disability Tournament.

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 Good idea, and the wheelchair thread as well. Ill do it shortly, but not sure of entries for the AO, maybe Annas Dad will fill this in? 

also, not sure if you saw this, JonathanH, but we are running our player of the season vote at the moment- Anna McBride is a contender in this group (there are 4 groups)

 

https://britishtennis.activeboard.com/t72408559/2025-player-of-the-season-vote-round-one-group-d/

I've just voted for Anna. Thanks for starting the new thread JonH. I never knew how many variations of para-tennis there were- I thought it was only wheelchair. Turns out there's Blind and Partially-Sighted and Para-standing, as well as the ones discussed in this thread!

Yes, for sure. It would be really interesting to see other variations in the Paralympics, but I'm not sure if that will happen.

AnnaM wrote:

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Hi,

I have been very preoccupied with winter illnesses and other things. There is another serious problem that has come up. So sorry I have not seen this thread until now. I usually get an email that a post has been made, but have seen none.

The truth is that we find out things at the last minute. Sometimes too late. Although, I believe there might be an event around the Nottingham Open.

Anna is playing in the AO this month. However, preparation has been a disaster. Chest infections, one after another left Anna with bruised ribs. She was not able to train for 6 weeks. The awful weather has got in the way in the UK and Oz. We arrived in Sydney on the 11th of Jan and it has rained so much that Anna has hardly seen a ball. The tournament she entered there was rained out and she did not get on court last Friday, Sat and Sun. She got onto court on Monday afternoon for a short sets match that she could not finish. So she retired at 1-2 40-15 so she could catch the plane to Brisbane. It was sunny in Brisbane and Melbourne the whole time it was flooding in Sydney.

It is sunny in Brisbane where we are now, so Anna is trying to make up for lost time this week.

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Thanks Annas Dad. Hopefully Anna will get a match or two in Brisbane and then feel a little more ready for the AO. What event is Brisbane, is that an ITF event of some sort or a more local Australian event?  

-- Edited by JonH comes home on Tuesday 20th of January 2026 06:57:49 AM