Not quite Djokovic

It’s been a while since I tried a new sport, especially after my experiences with wheelchair fencing and wheelchair basketball. Don’t get me wrong, they’re fantastic sports, but since I don’t typically use a wheelchair, they never really clicked for me. It’s tough to get into something when the fundamental equipment doesn’t match how you move in daily life. But today, I decided to give something else a shot: assisted standing tennis.

This isn’t your typical tennis. It’s a version of the game designed for players with physical disabilities who play while standing, often using prosthetics, like me. The rules are modified to make it more accessible. For example, players can take an extra bounce, or even three bounces depending on their specific needs. It’s all about adapting the game to the person, which feels much more inclusive than forcing a person to adapt to the game.

The biggest hurdles were my balance and a fear of falling. My physiotherapist and I talk a lot about the challenges for lower-limb amputees, and these sessions always focus on building core strength and stability to improve my movement and reduce my fall risk.

Those were exactly the things I struggled with today. The fear of falling was particularly bad, especially after I broke my hip earlier in the year. When the ball came toward me, my instinct was to freeze. I just couldn’t figure out how to move quickly without feeling like I was going to topple over.

Despite my awkwardness, it was a genuinely great experience. Everyone, from the organizers to the other players, was incredibly welcoming. I even ended up playing with a kid who was probably around 11, and he was absolutely incredible—a far better player than me!

People were so helpful, and someone even loaned me a racket. Marita, the organizer, checked in with me to see how I was doing. When I explained my struggles, she was so understanding. She mentioned that there’s a physiotherapist who specializes in this sport, and I’ll be following up with her to see if I can get some specific lessons/advice.

This experience has already given me a new goal to work on with my own physiotherapist. I think that with some targeted practice on my balance and strength, I could actually get the hang of this. It’s a huge relief to find a sport that feels like a real fit, and I’m excited to see where this journey takes me.