Today's Google Doodle celebrates the Wheelchair Tennis at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.

 

Diede De Groot from the Netherlands executes a forehand shot during the Women's Singles Wheelchair Tennis event. [+]Getty Images

Yesterday and today’s Google Doodle featured two animated birds—one brown and the other blue—playing tennis in wheelchairs at the Jardin des Tuileries in France. This lively cartoon highlighted the ongoing wheelchair tennis tournament at the Paris Paralympics 2024.

Wheelchair tennis, one of the fastest-growing wheelchair sports globally, has gained popularity over the past five decades. It underscores that tennis is not just for certain individuals but is increasingly inclusive of various ages, conditions, and life situations.

The Google Doodle’s caption, “Ace attitudes and stellar serves. Wheelchair Tennis starts today at Stade Roland-Garros!” reflects this spirit. Roland Garros Stadium, known for its red clay courts and home to the French Open, is hosting the wheelchair tennis events of the 2024 Summer Paralympics through September 7.

The events are taking place on the same courts as the 2024 French Open did this past Spring with no real modifications to the sizes of the courts. Players also use the same types of rackets and tennis balls. The net across the middle of each court does measure 0.914 meters or three feet in height at its center. And the players are in wheelchairs.

The wheelchair tennis events are being held on the same courts as the 2024 French Open, with no changes to court dimensions or equipment; players use standard rackets and tennis balls, and the net remains at 0.914 meters (three feet) high. The main difference is the "two-bounce rule." Unlike traditional tennis, where players must return the ball before it bounces twice, wheelchair tennis allows up to two bounces. This rule accommodates the challenge of maneuvering wheelchairs across the court.

Wheelchair tennis has become a prominent feature of the Paralympics, with France pioneering an official wheelchair program in the 1980s and the sport making its Paralympic debut in Barcelona in 1992. The sport has grown significantly since then. This year’s Paralympics showcases top players, including Alfie Hewett of Great Britain, Spain’s Martin De La Puente, Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez, and Japan’s Todiko Oda, who is seen as the successor to Shingo Kunieda, a frequent topic in discussions about the greatest of all time in wheelchair tennis.

In the women’s Open singles, The Netherlands’ Diede de Groot has advanced to the semi-finals after a straight-set victory over China’s Luoyao Gao. De Groot’s dominance is evident from her achievement of a Grand Slam three times from 2021 to 2023. Her performances continue to enhance her GOAT credentials.

If you’re looking for an engaging and inspirational sport, wheelchair tennis offers not only strategic and dynamic play but also showcases athletes who excel despite adversity.