Rolling in Rotterdam

Wheelchair tennis has gained unique traction—and integration—at the biggest tennis tournament in the Netherlands

Action on the Wheelchair Arena at Rotterdam Ahoy. (Photo © ABN AMRO Open)

This is the first in a planned series of Bounces features about wheelchair tennis, starting with the uniquely inclusive set up of the ATP tournament in Rotterdam which ended yesterday. Thanks for subscribing! -Ben

When Botic van de Zandschulp and Tallon Griekspoor led the Netherlands to the Davis Cup final a few months ago, it was a historic first for the country, which had never before reached the final in its 97 long years playing in the competition.

But despite that possible history-maker hero status, the pair made it clear when I spoke to them a few weeks ago that they can’t flex anything like superstar status when it comes to securing court time at the four indoor courts belonging to the Dutch tennis federation (KNLTB) at the National Tennis Center de Kegel Amstelveen.

“We always have to wait for them to finish,” Van de Zandschulp said, smiling.

The “them” to whom Van de Zandschulp was referring is a group which represents the most distinct part of Dutch tennis culture: the country’s sizeable contingent of wheelchair players, who also train at the Amstelveen facility—and elsewhere around the country—building the country of 17.8 million into a tennis superpower on wheels.