Adaptive Tennis: Making the Sport Accessible for Visually Impaired Players

Roland-Garros has introduced tennis for people with visual impairments for the first time in 2026. This initiative allows players with visual impairments to compete alongside sighted peers through the use of specialized equipment, including larger rackets and audible balls.

The introduction of these adaptations is part of a broader effort to enhance inclusivity at the tournament. This focus on accessibility extends to a comprehensive wheelchair tennis programme scheduled to take place from June 2 to June 6, 2026.

The 2026 wheelchair tennis events will feature a total of 10 contested events. These include:

• Women’s and men’s wheelchair singles and doubles
• Girls’ and boys’ singles and doubles
• Quad singles and doubles

Matches will be held on the outside courts as well as on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. The latter will host three opening-session matches, starting at 11 a.m., on Thursday, June 4, Friday, June 5, and Saturday, June 6, 2026. These matches are scheduled for live broadcast by France Télévisions.

The official draw for the various wheelchair events will be conducted on June 1, 2026, which will determine the potential paths for the leading contenders.

In the men’s draw, World No. 1 and three-time defending champion Tokito Oda is expected to face significant competition. Key challengers include World No. 2 Alfie Hewett, the 2025 Rolex Paris Masters champion, as well as Martin de la Puente and Guga Fernandez.

In the women’s events, tour leader Yui Kamiji will defend both her singles and doubles titles, both of which she claimed during the 2025 edition.

The tournament serves as a privileged stage for the discipline’s top stars, leveraging its history as a host venue for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Stadium and Digital Accessibility

Beyond the competitive sports programmes, Roland-Garros has implemented several measures to ensure the stadium is accessible to all visitors. All stadium facilities are accessible to people with reduced mobility, and a specific drop-off zone has been established at Gate 30 to facilitate easier entry for these guests.

The organization has also extended its accessibility commitments to its digital infrastructure. Roland-Garros maintains that its software packages, intranet, extranet, and websites are accessible in accordance with Article 47 of Law No. 2005-102.