Adaptive Standing Tennis

This form of tennis has its organized roots coming from Latin America. Locations in Mexico and South America were the first to begin organizing efforts for tennis tournaments and programming specifically tailored to individuals who qualified to play para standing tennis. The form of tennis became referred to as tenis adaptivo de pie. Translated from Spanish to English as playing from the foot up, or standing adaptive tennis. Tenis Adaptivo de pie is also referred to by the acronym TAP.

Throughout the years and origin of adaptive sports many individuals began to participate not only for their own interest but for socialization. In 1937, John Poulin of Austria started playing tennis with a lower limb amputation to one of his legs against pedestrians with the aid of crutches. He is considered to be the first known para standing tennis player. Antonio Solano of Mexico, born in 1960, is considered to be the first known person with upper extremity disability, congenital limb malformation or shortened arms, to play para standing tennis.

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As advancements in technology in prosthetics and orthotics has increased over the years, persons with physical disabilities began to compete in tennis tournaments with the aid of prosthetic legs, arms, and orthotic braces. Before being labeled a more organized modality of tennis, several exhibitions and tournaments took place around the world. Today, a growing number of organizers operate a schedule of tournaments around the world.{{Cite web |date=2016-08-17 |title=Brazil Serves Up International Stand-up Tennis Tournament |url=https://livingwithamplitude.com/news_2016-08-17_01/ |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=Amplitude |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2018-04-26 |title=San Antonio Amputees Stay Active, Competitive on Tennis Court |url=http://sanantonioreport.org/san-antonio-amputees-stay-active-competitive-on-tennis-court/ |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=San Antonio Report |language=en-US}}

Since para standing tennis was not recognized by governing federations of tennis until 2023, previous tournaments were considered exhibition events.

The first organized International adaptive standing tennis tournament took place at the Tres Marias Club in Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico in 2013. Participants from five countries came to compete in the tournament.

On December 11-12, 2015 the Master Final TAP was held in Santiago, Chile.{{Cite web |date=2015-12-24 |title=Stand-Up Adaptive Tennis Tournament in Chile: Incredible Talent |url=https://livingwithamplitude.com/news_2015-12-24_04/ |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=Amplitude |language=en-US}} The tournament was organized by the TAP Foundation as part of the TAP World Tour. The TAP World Tour is an International tennis circuit for persons who play para standing tennis.{{Cite web |title=TAPWORLDTOUR |url=http://www.tapworldtour.com/ |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=tapworldtour.com}} Enzo Amadei Jerez and Ana Maria Rodriguez are the founders of the TAP Foundation and TAP World Tour.

File:“Masters Final TAP in Santiago, Chile.jpg”.jpg

The United States hosted its first International event with the Inaugural USA TAP Open which was held December 9–11, 2016 in Houston, Texas.{{Cite news |date=20 January 2017 |title=The Most Amazing Tennis Tournament You Will Ever See |work=Inside Tennis Magazine |url=https://jeffbourns.com/usa-tap-open/ |access-date=6 January 2022}}{{Cite web |date=2017-01-24 |title=Houston Tournament Shows Off New Form Of Adaptive Tennis |url=https://athletesroll.com/2017/01/24/2016-usa-stand-up-adaptive-tennis/ |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=Athletes Roll |language=en}} The tournament was organized by Cindy Benzon, Jeff Bourns, Harold Graham, Enzo Amadei Jerez, and Ana Maria Rodriguez with support from the United States Tennis Association of Texas. 1987 International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Dennis Ralston was the honorary tournament ambassador. 28 players from 11 countries around the world came to compete in the inaugural event. The USA TAP Open served as the International Adaptive Standing Tennis World Championships from 2016 until 2019 before being interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |date=2017-12-11 |title=TAP World Amputee Tennis Tournament |url=https://cw39.com/news/local/tap-world-amputee-tennis-tournament/ |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=CW39 Houston |language=en-US}}File:Inaugural_USA_TAP_Open.jpg

The Orthotics Prosthetics Activities Foundation (OPAF) was founded by Robin Burton. The foundation held "first volley" clinics across the United States in an effort to get people playing tennis. The clinics were for both wheelchair and standing amputee tennis players. OPAF held the first United States based amputee tennis tournament in November 2016.{{Cite web |last=Kemp |first=Terense |title=OPAF Hosts First Amputee Tennis Tournament in US |url=http://oandpnews.org/2016/11/30/opaf-hosts-first-amputee-tennis-tournament-in-us/ |work=O&P News |access-date=2022-06-20 |language=en-US}} File:“Orthotic and Prosthetic Foundation tennis tournament.jpg”.jpg

The Carolinas Adaptive Standing Tennis Association (CAST) began to host annual tournaments at Pinetop Tennis Club with the Inaugural CAST Open April 26–28, 2019 in Greensboro, North Carolina.{{Cite web |title=CAST |url=https://www.gretanc.com/cast_carolinasadaptivestanding/ |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=Guilford Regional Tennis Association - GRETA |language=en-US}} The organization was founded by John Hizer.{{Cite press release |title=Greensboro Hosts First Standing Adaptive Tennis Tournament in North Carolina |url=https://www.yesweekly.com/sports/greensboro-hosts-first-standing-adaptive-tennis-tournament-in-north-carolina/article_de19fd4c-e6f0-5bb2-91e7-c9ad198d6ee1.html |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=YES! Weekly |language=en}}

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Europe hosted its first international level tournament at the 2018 Malmo Open in Malmo, Sweden.{{Cite web |title=Madrid TC (Single Physical Disabled (Standing)) - Tennis - Malmo Open 2018 Results |url=https://results.cupmanager.net/13973791,2018,14259602,en/team/14846960/matches |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=results.cupmanager.net}} The Malmo Open is Europe's largest para sporting event.{{Cite web |title=MALMÖ OPEN - THE EUROPEAN PARASPORT EVENT |url=https://www.malmo-open.com/ |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=malmo-open.com}} The tournament was organized by Harald Von Koch and the organizing staff of the Malmo Open. Europe has since seen expanded growth and development in Para-Standing Tennis.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-21 |title=GRUGLIASCO CAPITALE DEL PARA STANDING TENNIS CON 40 ATLETI DA TUTTA EUROPA PER IL 1° TRAINING CAMP IN ITALIA |url=https://www.sportdipiu.it/grugliasco-capitale-del-para-standing-tennis-con-40-atleti-da-tutta-europa-per-il-1-training-camp-in-italia/ |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=SportDiPiù |language=it-IT}} In 2023, the PST Italian Open in Turin featured 30+ athletes from 12 different countries. The tournament singles winners were Brazilian Thalita Rodrigues (PST1-2) and American Danny Scrivano (PST3-4).{{Cite web |last=Paz |first=León |date=2023-05-03 |title=Les émotions et l'esprit de compétition triomphent lors de la deuxième édition du Tournoi Para Standing Tennis à Grugliasco - Torino Oggi |url=https://romandie-guide.ch/les-emotions-et-lesprit-de-competition-triomphent-lors-de-la-deuxieme-edition-du-tournoi-para-standing-tennis-a-grugliasco-torino-oggi/ |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=Romandie-guide |language=fr-FR}}

Japan is known to be the first country that created a national incorporated organization, Japan Adaptive Stand-Up Tennis Association (JASTA). The organization was formed in 2019 by Ken Shibatani and Reiko Shibatani.{{Cite web |title=HOME |url=https://www.jastatennis.com/ |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=JASTA |language=ja}}

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Category:Forms of tennis