Members of the London 2012 ParalympicsGB wheelchair tennis team gave fans at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals some extra entertainment today as they showcased their sport at The O2 Arena.
Gordon Reid and Marc McCarroll took to the practice courts to show off the skills that earned them both a place to compete at the Paralympic Games back in September.
After watching Andy Murray win his opening match against Tomas Berdych, fans were treated to some impressive shots and tricks from Reid and McCarroll before Reid got the better of McCarroll 6-2 in a mini match.
The pair then teamed up to play their coaches Stuart Wilkinson and Karen Ross in an integrated match which saw the wheelchair tennis players come out on top.
The demo follows an exciting week for wheelchair tennis after the ITF announced that a number of British tournaments would be upgraded on the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour in 2013, including last week's Nottingham Indoor, which will become an ITF 1.
"It was brilliant to meet so many tennis fans today and I hope they got a taste of how wheelchair tennis can be just as exciting as the game being played this week by Andy Murray and company," said McCarroll.
"I also took part in a demo at the Davis Cup tie back in February and the crowd was amazing then, as they have been here today at the O2. I'd encourage all of them to come to one of the seven ITF wheelchair tennis tournaments that will be played across the UK in 2013," added Reid, who reached the quarter-finals of the men's singles and doubles at Eton Manor.
Reid now joins British No.1 Lucy Shuker and world No.4 Andy Lapthorne as the trio head straight to Mechelen, Belgium to compete in wheelchair tennis' version of the ATP Tour Finals, the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters.
For the first time in the event's history, players on the Tennis Foundation's Performance Programme have qualified for each of the men's, women's and quad events at the Masters.
"It's a really exciting time for wheelchair tennis in this country and we want to continue the momentum to get more people playing and watching the sport. Our road to Rio 2016 has already begun and I'm confident we'll see more British success in 2013 as well as at the upcoming Singles and Doubles Masters," said the Tennis Foundation's Head of Player Performance, Geraint Richards.
View some photos from the demo in the Tennis Foundation photo gallery.
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