Blind and partially sighted tennis is now the fastest growing blind sport in Australia

Kala Petronijevic criticizes Novak Djokovic for his obsession with tennis.

She was born the same summer the Serb dominated his opponents en route to a second Australian Open victory, and has been drawn to the sport for as long as she can remember.

When she was five, her parents asked her what sport she wanted to play, and for Kala, there was only one answer.

Blind in her right eye and with minimal vision in her left, the 13-year-old plays blind and visually impaired tennis (BLV), a variation that makes it easier for visually impaired people to compete.

“My poor parents didn’t know where to start,” Kala said.

“Luckily, my mother discovered blind tennis.”

When Kala was younger, the sport struggled to take hold in Australia, which meant long journeys to get to a tennis club that supported it.

“The problem was that I was the only child among the group of blind and visually impaired adults,” she said.

But now things have changed.

BLV tennis has skyrocketed in popularity, with clubs supporting the sport popping up all over the country.

Kala now looks forward to Tuesday afternoons at a BLV tennis program at a club closer to home, where she can play on the court with her friends.

“For me, blind tennis is more than just a game, it means sharing jokes and having fun with my friends,” she said.

The growth of tennis for the blind and visually impaired

BLV tennis has been around for decades and is played with a special ball that vibrates when it bounces and allows visually impaired players to hear its location.

But in recent years, BLV tennis in Australia has exceeded all expectations to become the fastest growing blind sport in the country.

In the years before the pandemic, there were only two BLV tennis clubs in the entire country.

There are now more than 20, with hopes of opening one in the Northern Territory later this year and reaching the goal of having a club in every state and territory.

Australia hosted its first national championship in 2022, and a tour circuit has now emerged on the calendar with state tournaments welcoming dozens of BLV tennis players.

Blind Sports Australia has been one of the biggest advocates for BLV tennis, and chief executive Matthew Clayton said the sport gave people the opportunity to participate, regardless of their level of disability.

“Just being able to play with friends, that’s what sport is for most of us.”

But increasingly, it is games outside the local park that are attracting people.

“The fact that we now have really good pathways with the state championships, that was something we didn’t have in the past,” Clayton said.

“Just having this pathway makes a huge difference to people, to now know they can pursue it as far as they want.”

Australian blind tennis world champions

Grace Hobbs was playing BLV tennis in a social group in Sydney when she heard that an international tournament was going to be held in England.

She has begun to step up her training in the hope of representing the first Australian team at the International Blind Sports Federation World Games in Birmingham.

The training paid off.

Ms Hobbs outplayed the competition, going 10-0 in her matches to win gold in both the singles and doubles competitions.

“It was a really incredible environment…there was nerves, excitement, focus and competition all rolled into one,” Hobbs said.

“It’s almost like the country supports you and wants to do your best.”

Thanks in part to Grace, the team dominated the medal count, taking home five gold, two silver and two bronze.

Steve Manley was the team’s coach on the trip.

He said that despite the success, there is still room for the sport to grow and attract new fans.

For Manley, representation and awareness are key.

“It’s like if you see someone else doing it, you know you can do it yourself,” Manley said.

“People who love tennis at the Australian Open and probably think they can’t play it, are going to learn that they can play it and that there are pathways to representing Australia.”

A day on the courts at the Australian Open

As part of the Australian Open competition day on January 23Kala and Grace will both be part of a contingent of BLV players playing in showcases at Melbourne Park.

Open to the public to come and try the sport, it is hoped that even more Australians will discover BLV tennis.

Grace Hobbs, who has seen the game grow from its humble beginnings, wants more Australians to get involved.

“Come and try it, if you’ve never touched a racket before, it’s okay,” she said.

“You might meet someone who has the same visual impairment as you and who might be able to share their experiences.”

And the opportunity to play on the same courts as his hero Novak Djokovic is not something that escapes Kala.

“I guess when one door closes, another one opens,” Kala said.

“Thanks to blind tennis, I meet great people and experience things that other children and people dream of.”