IBTA is pleased to collaborate with Hip Hop Saves Lives, a nonprofit organisation in the USA, to promote a song that honours the inaugural blind tennis competition at the Australian Open 2026. Chad Harper, Hip Hop Saves Lives founder and a member of Rotary World Disability Advocacy crafted a new song with artists across 3 continents to celebrate Blind Tennis as a new addition to the Australian Open Grand Slam tournament.
The song is the result of a joint project between Hip Hop Saves Lives and The Rotary World Disability Advocacy (RWDA). RWDA has a strong focus on the human rights for people with disabilities and recognized music and the arts as a vital part. RWDA actually has a member, Nathalia Benavides, who is a blind tennis player from Colombia. She’s the only Latin American participating in this inaugural competition in Melbourne, Australia.
The Australian Open has been a leader when it comes to inclusion and promoting adaptive tennis. AO was the first tennis grand slam to add wheelchair tennis in 2002. IBTA President, Samir Mahir, says music to highlight what we are doing with the sport is a much-needed addition.
You can listen and download the song on bandcamp: https://hiphopsaveslives.bandcamp.com/track/blind-tennis-ability-20
On this upbeat dance track Harper from Brooklyn, NY produced the music, raps the first verse and part of the chorus. Club Member Mesh Holykid from Kenya raps the second verse. Lynsey Anne Core from Ireland sings the third verse with harmonies provided by her fellow countryman Patrick Hogan. Kunta Official Beats from Kenya mixed and mastered the song. Joy Mercy who is actually blind sings the chorus that reads “I can see with my ears, what I can’t see with my eyes”. These lyrics speak to blind tennis players listening for where the ball is, which has a bell inside so they can track it.