The first sign that something was wrong with Maddy Kelly’s vision was when she started missing the ball in tennis.
Two years ago, at the age of 11, the Wodonga resident’s vision was rapidly deteriorating.
“The size of the writing in (my) textbooks started getting smaller and I couldn’t read it… so I started moving the book closer to my face,” Maddy said.
He was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a genetic eye disease that damages the macula, leading to partial or complete loss of central vision.
“My vision is like a jar of glitter that’s always swirling… with all kinds of glitter inside, and the flashes of light and the glitter are what I see,” Maddy said.
But now the 13-year-old is a national tennis champion.
Since March last year, Maddy has been traveling the country playing blind and partially sighted (BLV) tennis and is now Australia’s highest-ranked junior player.
Maddy Kelly holds two BLV national tennis titles. (Supplied: Tennis Australia)
She and fellow rising star Grace Hobbs hold the B3-4 women’s doubles title – and Maddy is ranked second in the B4 women’s singles age group, in which she competes against adults.
“It’s a little tough, but it’s great training,” Maddy said.
How it works
BLV tennis is played on a smaller version of a standard tennis court.
Players are ranked based on their vision level, which determines how many times the ball can bounce before being returned over the net.
Marking strips are used to adjust the size of the field. (ABC Goulburn Murray: Sarah Krieg)
B1 athletes do not have functional vision and must wear a blindfold on the field. They are entitled to four rebounds.
B2 players are allowed three rebounds and B3 athletes can have two.
B4 players like Maddy can only let the ball bounce once.
BLV tennis balls are larger and softer than a standard yellow tennis ball.
The spongy outer material contains a golf-sized chamber in the middle, filled with ball bearings, which vibrate when the ball is moved or hit.
“It’s really helpful, except when you’re playing on a pitch that really echoes,” Maddy said.
“It’s really hard to hear and hard to see at the same time, which is not a good mix.”
More than sport
Maddy’s mother, Rachel Ciantar-Kelly, said she got goosebumps thinking about the first competition Maddy entered.
“She just came alive…people were talking to her, not about her vision impairment, but about her tennis,” she said.
“It was less about his disability and more about his abilities.”
Maddy Kelly and her mother, Rachel Ciantar-Kelly, say the BLV tennis community stands together. (ABC Goulburn Murray: Sarah Krieg)
Maddy and her parents found community and support through the world of BLV tennis.
“That feeling of understanding and knowing what people are going through, it lifts your spirits,” Maddy said.
Adapted sport appeals to players
According to Tennis Australia, BLV tennis is the fastest growing blind sport in the country, with more than 120 players participating in tournaments since their debut four years ago.
“We’ve gone from a pilot tournament in Sydney and Adelaide to a full schedule…six state tournaments, national championships, community level events and weekly leagues,” said Ben Dew, Tennis Australia’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Pathways and Events Specialist.
Maddy Kelly won two BLV national tennis titles in July. (Provided: Rachel Ciantar-Kelly)
The popularity of the sport has opened doors for players like Maddy.
“My dream is to play in one of the big tournaments: the Australian Open or, better yet, Wimbledon,” she said.
A place on Center Court is closer than ever, with BLV tennis set to make its Australian Open debut next year.
Tennis Australia is set to announce a “showdown” event between Team Australia and Team World that will feature 32 of the world’s best BLV tennis players.
Maddy is not expected to be on the team roster for the inaugural competition, but with plans to launch onto the international stage in the new year, there are no limits for the young champion.
“You feel included, you don’t feel excluded, it’s just a wonderful community,” she said.
