Blind Tennis

The 2026 World Blind Tennis Championships concluded on August 29 in Vilnius, Lithuania, after a week of high-level competition at the SEB Arena.Athletes from around the globe competed in categories for different visual classifications (B1-B4), with Australian players delivering particularly strong performances.Australia was the standout nation at the championship, successfully defending their team title from 2024. Their athletes secured a remarkable nine gold medals across the tournament. 2026 World Champions – Singles 2026 World Champions – Doubles Several other athletes and nations reached the podium in Vilnius:Italy’s Davide Viglianti earned two silver medals: one in B2 Men’s Singles and another in B2 Men’s Doubles with Australia’s Mark HaskettSpain secured two bronze medals. Álvaro Azofra and Nacho Ruiz won bronze in men’s doubles, while María Coronel won bronze in women’s doublesAustralia’s Courtney Webeck won a silver medal in B2 Women’s Singles, finishing behind Luxembourg’s Liz ConzemiusNicolas Berodt of Luxembourg and Ireland’s Vincent Keane won the bronze medal in the mixed international doubles You can find a full list of results here.

The story of Igor Dutra Ferreira, 26 — the first Brazilian athlete to officially compete at the World Blind Tennis Championships.Born with Lowe Syndrome, Igor lost his vision completely in 2018 after five unsuccessful cornea transplant attempts. But tennis runs in his blood — it was never just a hobby for Igor, it was a way of life and also a way to be close to his family. His mother and most of his relatives are all tennis players, and since childhood, his life was on a tennis court.After losing his sight, his family discovered Blind Tennis through some online searches. But being a sport born in Japan and with most of its information in English, language and distance would be the biggest barriers to learning more about the sport and reaching out to its community. But Igor started practicing it anyway. His family found a way to buy a few official balls and, as a viable alternative, one of his uncles found a way to remove the bells from the official balls and insert them into new similar ones that could be bought in Brazil.Igor found his way back into tennis and it didn’t take long for him to develop incredible skills, quickly adapting to training alone — hitting the ball against the wall like regular tennis players do.Six years later, Igor met a new friend — a communications specialist — who helped him contact the International Blind Tennis Association (IBTA). They researched and confirmed that no one else was actually practicing the sport in Brazil, revealing that Igor was the country’s true pioneer — making history without even realizing it. They then began planning to formalize Igor’s career… Read More »Brazil Serves Its First Ball in Blind Tennis

In a landmark decision for adaptive sports, the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) has officially recognised blind tennis, confirming its place on the competition programme for the 2027 IBSA World Games. The games are scheduled to take place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from 26 May to 6 June 2027. This historic inclusion follows the exhibition tournament at the 2023 IBSA World Games that took place in Birmingham, UK, and a formal partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IBTA and IBSA in September 2025, a strategic move to drive the global growth and development of the sport. Crucially, this momentum has been further amplified by a parallel and reinforcing partnership between the IBTA and the International Tennis Federation (ITF/World Tennis), formalized through a joint MoU in October 2025. Together, these strategic partnerships establish a unified, triple-pillar approach—uniting the Paralympic movement, the tennis establishment, and the blind-sport community—which significantly accelerates the path to gaining official Paralympic status by meeting key recognition criteria more rapidly and with greater institutional backing than ever before. A New Era for Blind Tennis The official inclusion of blind tennis in the IBSA World Games—the world’s largest multi-sport event dedicated exclusively to blind and partially sighted athletes—marks a significant milestone. For years, the sport has been gaining global momentum, now being played in more than 30 countries across all continents. The Tashkent Games will provide an unparalleled platform for the world’s best blind tennis athletes to compete at the highest level.The event is expected to be the most ambitious edition yet, with over 2,000 athletes from around the world anticipated to compete. The Tashkent Games will also be a crucial opportunity for blind tennis… Read More »Blind Tennis Officially Recognised for 2027 IBSA World Games

As the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) marks its 45th anniversary this year, the organisation stands as a testament to the power of sport to transcend barriers, transform lives, and unite communities across the globe. This diamond jubilee celebration is not merely about commemorating four and a half decades of existence—it is about honoring the countless blind and partially sighted athletes whose stories of resilience, determination, and triumph continue to inspire millions worldwide.Founded in 1981, IBSA was established with a singular vision: to create opportunities for athletes with visual impairments to compete at the highest levels of sport. What began as a modest initiative has grown into a global movement, recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and partnered with organisations such as the World Blind Union, UEFA, and the International Judo Federation. IBTA is proud to have partnered with IBSA in 2025, working together to further develop and grow our sport around the world.IBSA’s mission has always extended beyond medals and podiums. To mark this milestone anniversary, IBSA has launched a global initiative inviting blind athletes from every corner of the world to share their personal stories. These narratives reveal the profound impact that sport has had on their lives. Blind and vision impaired athletes and participants from around the world are invited to contribute to the IBSA 45th anniversary storytelling initiative. Stories can be submitted through the IBSA website or via email at media@ibsasport.org, where selected narratives will be featured throughout the anniversary year.

The International Blind Tennis Association (IBTA) continues to grow and strengthen the development of tennis for blind or partially sighted athletes worldwide. We are pleased to announce important updates regarding our official events and the new ranking points system, designed to provide more opportunities for competition and recognition for our players.During the IBTA Extraordinary General Assembly on 12 March 2026, member nations have approved a new ranking points structure. Our official tournaments bring together players from different countries, promoting not only high-level performance but also inclusion, cultural exchange, and the growth of our international community.Events such as the upcoming World Championships in Vilnius, Lithuania frim 23-29 August will be key in continuing to position Blind Tennis on the global stage. We also invite players, coaches, and organizations to participate in other events and be part these unique experiences worlwide.IBTA has updated its ranking system and launched a new ranking points structure effective 12 March 2026. The aim is to recognize all our athletes’ performance in all official tournaments, establish clearer international ranking criteria and encourage participation in IBTA-sanctioned events. Players will be able to earn points based on their combined results, which will determine their position in the official world rankings.Effective this season, the tournament levels are comprised of five tiers, with the following point allocation: Tier 1: IBTA World Championships and the IBSA World Games, with minimum of eight countries from at least four different continents and more than 60 players, are allocated 2000 points. Tier 2: International tournaments, with minimum of five countries from at least three different continents and more than 40 players, are allocated 1000 points. Tier 3: Continental tournaments, with minimum of three countries from the same… Read More »More IBTA Sanctioned Events in 2026 and a New Ranking System

In partnership with Blind Sport Lithuania (Blind Sport LT), the IBTA is pleased to announce that registration for the 2026 IBTA World Blind Tennis Championships is now open. The event will take place from 23-29 August 2026 in Vilnius, Lithuania. The registration deadline is 15 May 2026. Click here to register!

IBTA is pleased to announce that Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital city, will host the 2026 IBTA World Blind Tennis Championships. Blind Tennis Lithuania (Blind Sport Lt) has been selected to organise the 2026 event. IBTA congratulates Blind Sport Lt and Lithuania’s Local Organising Committee (LOC) for being awarded the 2026 world championships.This year’s IBTA World Blind Tennis Championships will take place at the SEB Arena in the city of Vilnius from 23–29 August 2026 with onsite visual classification planned for the 23rd and 24th of August. SEB Arena, an ITF-certified National Training Centre, is the largest indoor tennis complex in Central Europe. More details about the event and registration to follow in the coming weeks.

In a landmark moment for adaptive sports, tennis fans at Melbourne Park witnessed history this week as AO 2026 hosted the inaugural Blind and Low Vision Tennis Showdown. The vibrant event, a captivating team battle between Team World and Team Australia, not only showcased extraordinary athleticism but also served as a powerful testament to the fact that blind tennis is one of the fastest-growing adaptive tennis variations on the global stage.Held on the tournament’s final weekend, the showdown delivered a spectacle of skill, speed, and sound. The rhythmic bounce of adapted audible balls—filled with ball bearings to create a continuous audible rattle—and the players’ swift, precise movements captivated an audience that included tennis officials and new fans for all over the world.The team rivalry added a fiery, Laver Cup-like atmosphere. Team Australia, buoyed by a roaring home crowd, featured local heroes like world number one Ross Patterson (Men’s B4), whose explosive forehands drew gasps. For Team World, Japanese veteran and former world number one Yumi Yokota (Women’s B1) displayed breathtaking touch and tactical genius. The climactic moment came on Day 2 of the showdown when Team World rallied to 10 points behind Team Australia with 11 points, forcing a nail-biting finish where both teams needed 2 out of 3 wins to lift the trophy.“I want to thank our BLV tennis team and the players on an incredible showdown. We’ve reached remarkable milestones showcasing the rising popularity and accessibility of tennis. We look forward to celebrating blind tennis again at AO next year” said Tennis Australia Chief Tennis Officer, Tom Larner.The numbers support the momentum. From a handful of programs less than a decade ago, blind tennis is now played in… Read More »Team Australia Wins Australian Open 2026 Showdown

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… Read More »Music Celebrates the Inaugural Blind Tennis Competition at AO 2026

For the first time in tennis history, a Grand Slam will organise a competition for blind and visually impaired athletes. The Australian Open 2026 Blind and Low Vision Showdown is scheduled for January 31–February 1, marking a major step for inclusion at the sport’s highest level. The competition format of this invitational event will feature Team Australia vs. Team World, with 16 top IBTA ranked players across all classification categories. This groundbreaking event places elite blind tennis on one of the sport’s biggest global stages, redefining inclusion in professional tennis. Visit the official Australian Open site for more information.https://ausopen.com/articles/news/australian-open-2026-blind-and-low-vision-showdown-make-grand-slam-history