Blind and low vision tennis

Blind and low vision tennis
Highest governing bodyInternational Blind Sports Federation
First played1984 in Japan
Characteristics
Mixed-sexYes
Presence
Country or regionWorldwide
ParalympicNo

Blind and low vision tennis ("BLV tennis"; also blind tennis) is tennis adapted for persons who are blind or with a vision impairment.[1][2] BLV tennis may also be known as visually impaired tennis (VI tennis), or sound tennis.[3] It may be played as singles or doubles.[4]

History

The sport was created in 1984 in Japan by Miyoshi Takei (c. 1942–2011),[5][2][a] and is now played in more than thirty countries.[3]

The International Blind Tennis Association (IBTA) was created in 2014.[2]

In September 2025 the IBTA signed a memorandum of understanding with International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA), and separately in October 2025 with the International Tennis Federation (ITF), with a result that in August 2026 IBSA formed the IBSA Blind Tennis Committee to oversee the global governance of the sport.[6]

It is not presently one of the Paralympic sports.[3]

Rules

Compared to tennis, BLV tennis has several adaptions:[1]

  • BLV tennis ball is larger, with bearings within to create a sound – usually black or fluorescent yellow in colour;[4]
  • racquets have a shorter handle;
  • smaller field of play; and
  • more brightly-lit indoor court.

Before serving, the server calls "ready", awaits a reply of "yes", before calling "play" and playing the ball.[3] Normal tennis scoring is used but there may be shorter or timed sets.[3]

Rules are adjusted according to the player's vision:[1]

  • B1: Players wear a blindfold, the court is smaller and with tactile lines (which can be touched[3]), and a lower net. The ball may bounce three times before a shot;
  • B2: The ball may bounce three times before a shot;
  • B3: The ball may bounce two times before a shot; and
  • B4 and B5[3]: The ball may bounce once before a shot.

Competitions

BLV tennis was one of the ten sports at International Blind Sports Federation's IBSA World Games, in Birmingham, England, in August 2023, with Australia dominating.[7][8]

The world championships are scheduled for August 2026 in Vilnius, Lithuania.[9] The first world women's BLV tennis tournament is scheduled for September 2026 in Benidorm, Spain.[10]

Regions

Africa

By 2026, IBTA representative countries were: Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, and Uganda.[10]

America

By 2026, IBTA representative countries were: Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, USA, and Venezuela.[10]

In the USA, the United States Blind Tennis Association (USBTA) was formed in 2022.[11] The first permanently-lined blind tennis courts were in place by July 2024 in four county parks across Pittsburgh thanks to the work of the USBTA. [12]

Asia

By 2026, IBTA representative countries were: India, Japan, Pakistan, Singapore, and South Korea.[10]

In Japan, from the inaugural 1990 BLV tennis national championships for its first 21 years, the sport's founder Miyoshi Takei was national champion sixteen times.[5]

Europe

By 2026, IBTA representative countries were: Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, Turkey, and United Kingdom.[10]

Oceania

By 2026, IBTA representative countries were: Australia, and New Zealand.[10]

To increase awareness, BLV tennis was part of exhibition matches at the 2023 Australian Open.[1]

Notes

  1. ↑ USBTA record his first name of Miyoshui Takei as Mioshui.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Blind tennis players striving for bright future after milestone Australian Open debut". International Paralympic Committee. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "History and Explanation of Blind Tennis". United States Blind Tennis Association. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Visually Impaired tennis". Lawn Tennis Association. Great Britain. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Blind and Low Vision. About". Tennis Australia. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Blind Tennis History". International Blind Tennis Association. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "IBSA establishes Blind Tennis Committee, opening a new chapter for the sport". International Blind Sports Federation. 10 August 2026. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "Day 12 Round up – Young tennis prodigy springs surprise – International Blind Sport Federation (IBSA) World Games". www.ibsagames2023.co.uk. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  8. ↑ "Australian team claims five gold medals at IBSA World Games". Tennis Australia. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  9. ↑ "Events Calendar". International Blind Tennis Association. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1st Women's Blind Tennis Tournament. Spain 2026 Registration". International Blind Tennis Association. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  11. ↑ "Making Tennis Accessible to Blind and Low Vision (BLV) Players". United States Blind Tennis Association. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  12. ↑ "Blind and Low Vision Tennis Courts Are Now Open Across Pittsburgh". Pittsburgh Magazine. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
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