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!