Reigning Paralympic champions Jiske Griffioen, Gordon Reid and Dylan Alcott are the leading entries for the season ending NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters in London, it has been announced.
The tournament, due to take place from November 30 until December 4, will be staged at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre London 2012 Paralympic venue for the third successive year.
Top eight ranked players will toe the line in men’s and women’s singles events, while the top six rated quad singles players will compete.
Britain’s Reid, winner of his first Paralympic title in Rio de Janeiro, leads the men’s entries after tying at the top of the world rankings with Frenchman Stephane Houdet.
Belgium’s defending champion Joachim Gerard is one of five past winners in the men’s field, alongside Sweden’s number six Stefan Olsson, Japan’s number seven Shingo Kunieda and The Netherlands’ Maikel Scheffers.
“I know you are only as good as your last match and that the competition will be really intense at the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters,” Reid said.
“I’m just going to knuckle down and work hard to give myself every opportunity to win this title.
“That would be a dream finale to my year.”
Dutch number one and Rio Paralympic gold medalist Griffioen will seek a repeat of her victory in the 2015 women’s competition, where she beat 2014 champion and team-mate Aniek van Koot in the final.
Van Koot will start as second seed this time around ahead of Japan’s Yui Kamiji.
Australia’s Rio 2016 quad champion Dylan Alcott leads the rankings in his division.
United States’ rival David Wagner will be expected to provide his main competition.
South Africa’s Lucas Sithole and Great Britain’s Andy Lapthorne will begin as third and fourth seeds.
By Nick Butler
Republished with permission of insidethegames.biz.