Extra skilled wheelchair tennis occasions will happen at ATP and WTA tournaments subsequent 12 months following the approval of a brand new calendar construction by the Worldwide Tennis Federation (ITF).
Whereas the particular occasions haven’t but been confirmed, the ITF mentioned a “vital quantity” of recent ones will happen at ATP and WTA tournaments, making a calendar together with “increased requirements” and “elevated prize cash”.
BBC Sport understands there can be not less than seven additional built-in occasions in 2026.
The 4 Grand Slams at the moment have each wheelchair and non-wheelchair occasions, along with six ATP and and WTA tournaments.
Nice Britain’s Alfie Hewett – a 33-time Grand Slam champion throughout singles and doubles – mentioned the growth presents a “nice alternative for gamers to take their careers to the subsequent stage”.
World quantity two Hewett, who was overwhelmed by Tokito Oda within the Wimbledon wheelchair singles closing, added: “Now’s the time to take the possibility to develop our sport even additional and make built-in occasions the norm moderately than the exception.”
The ITF’s president, David Haggerty, mentioned the governing physique was “constructing on the success of the small variety of current built-in occasions to create a tour that’s much more efficient in enhancing the careers {of professional} and aspiring gamers.”
From 2026, the wheelchair tennis tour can be break up into three tiers: Premier, Worldwide and Growth.
The Premier Tier is the best stage, with tournaments to be graded as Grand Slam or Masters occasions, or 1000, 500 and 250 as per ATP and WTA occasions.
