PHOENIX — A national U.S. Tennis Association camp is drawing wheelchair tennis players from across the country. They'll have the opportunity to learn from some of the best in the sport.
Some are coaching after decades of playing and others are looking to build upon their wheelchair tennis game.
Paralympian Kaitlyn Verfuerth, is one of the coaches and a Paralympic gold medalist. She's been in the game for decades, often playing against people who didn't have disabilities.
“I competed on my high school team," Verfuerth said. "There were no other kids at that time in a wheelchair.
Verfuerth had no idea her game would continue past her senior year.
“Little did I know once I got through high school that there was this whole tour around the world," Verfuerth said.
But when she found that out, Verfuerth kept the game going.
“I played 20 years professionally on tour," she said. "I have two gold medals, a silver and a bronze. I've played in three Paralympic games.”
Today, she’s retired with a coaching certification. This weekend, Verfuerth will coach players from across the country in a U.S. Tennis Association National Camp at the Phoenix Tennis Center.
“Some of them want to work on a back-hand slice or hitting a slice serve or top-spin serve," she said.
Wheelchair tennis player and Navy Veteran, Michael Smith, will be there too.
“Sports have always been a thing that has helped me get past my injuries, because when I play I don’t think about anything," Smith said.
Smith’s life changed, while he was serving in the Navy.
“In 1981, March 3, I was involved in a helicopter crash on board in the US Navy," Smith said. And I lost the lower part of my left leg. I tore my right hand. Cracked my spinal cord and my head.”
Today at 62 years old, Smith plays both standup and wheelchair tennis, and coaches other sports too.
Both Smith and Verfuerth finding an unexpected love for the game, following unexpected life circumstances, and one they plan to share with fellow wheelchair tennis players on the court.
The U.S. Tennis Association National camp officially kicks off Friday at the Phoenix Tennis Center. It runs through Sunday. Participants are 12 and older, in all skill levels.
Joe Ragland runs the Phoenix Tennis Center, which is owned by the City of Phoenix. He said he is pushing to make tennis accessible for all, by opening up his courts for the national camp. And that push to make tennis accessible for all, started with his own childhood and tennis career.
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Ragland said while he was growing up in Washington DC, he couldn’t afford a tennis racquet or tennis balls. He got the opportunity to start playing the game at age 14, with the National Junior Tennis League.
That chance, launched his tennis playing career and now business today. Ragland said he played professionally for about six to seven years. Today, he said anyone can come play at the Phoenix Tennis Center.
While Ragland said he’s proud of his tennis career, he’s even more proud to host events like the U.S. Tennis Association’s National Camp to raise awareness for wheelchair tennis and open more access to the game.
“And that's what I'm so proud of, more than what I’ve accomplished, is to have opportunity to give back to organizations like Ability360, have their wheelchair organization come to this facility and do their training and working out and be able to have this facility for them, as their home," Ragland said.
Ragland said the tennis center hosts free lessons, other low-cost programs, and they don’t turn anyone down from playing the game.
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