Britain’s Matt Grover crowned World Champion in Para Standing Tennis

Para standing tennis is the format for people with physical impairments who want to play tennis without using a wheelchair. This includes, but not limited to, people with limb loss, limb deficiencies, cerebral palsy, acquired brain injuries or people of short stature.

This success comes just after the para standing pathway was officially recognised by the International Tennis Federation and various national tennis federations, with an increasing list of tournaments all over the world.

Para standing tennis integrates very easily with the non-disabled game since it can be played on any regular tennis court, with no modifications to tennis rackets or balls. In some para standing categories, players are allowed up to two bounces of the ball and can easily play against other para standing tennis players, as well as alongside or against non-disabled players.

Nine British players travelled to Barcelona for the para standing World Championship, with Michael Cartmell, Callum Owen, Harry Murphy 10-year-old Luca Reese among the debutants.

Grover emerged as the star performer, as he went one better in a repeat of last year's PST2 final, beating Ivan Corretja - the younger brother of former world No. 2 tennis player Alex, in the final.

Diagnosed with right-sided hemiplegia, cerebral palsy at just 18 months old, Grover admits his success in para standing tennis is beyond his wildest dreams.

“I grew up playing tennis against non-disabled players,” reflects Grover. “I played to county and British Tour level before going to university, but if you had told six-year-old Matt with cerebral palsy that he would be world champion in 2025, I would have said not a chance in the world.

“The event in Barcelona was fantastic for me. I did one better than I did in singles last year and to back it up by winning the title at the Europeans in Turin made it a very good few days.”

Grover is the LTA’s Wheelchair Tennis Pathway Manager and that position was useful in his preparations for the two big competitions he has won over the last few days.

“Working for the LTA means I can use the clay courts at the National Tennis Centre and that was a massive advantage going into the World Championship as it allowed me to get used to the clay ahead of Barcelona,” he said, reflecting on a tournament that was staged at the 1992 Olympic venue in Val’ de Hebron.

“The only disappointment was that I missed out in the doubles with my partner Ross Cudmore in the doubles final after having a match point against Alex Hunt (New Zealand) and Adam Hills (Australia), but it was a great tournament overall.”

Grover went on to beat Adam Hills in the final of the European Open in Turin a few days later, with the success of the two events leaving him convinced para standing tennis is making progress towards its ultimate ambition of being included in the Paralympic Games. 

Defeated finalist Hills is leading the drive for awareness around para standing tennis, with his widely viewed documentary following his journey in the sport highlighting the rise of para standing tennis to a huge audience.

Now Grover is hoping the momentum behind the sport can take it to the next level, with a clear goal in view for all involved in the sport.

“The ambition for para standing tennis is to be in the Paralympic Games,” added Grover. “When you look at other racket sports, badminton has a wheelchair and standing class and so does table tennis. At the moment, tennis only has a wheelchair class.

“So there must be some for para standing tennis and Adam Hills shone a light on this when he did his documentary on the sport last year.

“The dream for me would be to compete in the Paralympic Games. Just to go and experience that event would be special.

“There are also ambitions to have an established para standing tennis tour, so there is a great chance for the sport to grow over the next few years.

Grover also came runner up with partner Cudmore in the PST1-2 Doubles, narrowly losing out to Australia’s Adam Hills who was partnered up with New Zealand’s Alex Hunt.

"Making back-to-back World and European Finals for the second-year running is something we’re proud of, even if coming up just short still stings," said Ross.

"It’s amazing to see para-standing grow and new talent coming through — the job’s not done yet, we’re here to help pave the way for the next generation." 

Alongside the wheelchair performance pathway, the LTA supports performance pathways for Learning Disability, Para Standing, Deaf and Visually Impaired Tennis – giving more players the chance to represent their Great Britain on the international stage.

The LTA also stages a year-round calendar of domestic disability tennis competitions for wheelchair, learning disability, visually impaired, deaf and para standing tennis players, so that everyone has the opportunity to compete. 

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