LONDON – There are many reasons why able-bodied tennis players struggle to adjust to the grass courts at Wimbledon. As it turns out, wheelchair tennis players feel exactly the same way. Whether you’re on two feet or in a chair, competing at the All England Club presents a unique set of challenges.
“The ball doesn’t bounce here, and it’s very difficult to push [your chair] on the grass,” Israeli wheelchair tennis star Guy Sasson said Monday. “Out of the three surfaces we play on, grass is the most difficult to push. Sometimes the grass is high, so it’s hard to move, and it varies from court to court – some courts are very worn, some are new – you never know what you’ll get.
“So it’s a huge challenge, which makes me want to win here even more.”
Overcoming challenges is what Sasson, 45, does best. Since a snowboarding accident left him paralyzed 10 years ago, he has become one of the top wheelchair tennis players in the world. After competing in the Open division for four years and reaching the Top 30 in the world rankings, Sasson moved to the Quad division in 2023 – and has since been dominant.
He won his second consecutive Roland Garros title in June and currently sits as the No. 3 quad player in the world.
Now living and training in Houston, Texas, with his wife and four children, Sasson arrived at Wimbledon on a high, eager to conquer grass. (The quad wheelchair tournament begins on Wednesday.)
His fellow competitors aren’t counting him out.
“He’s tough because he’s able to do so much with the ball,” said Great Britain’s Gregory Slade. “Against other players, I’ll hit a shot and think ‘Oh, that’s causing pressure,’ but with him it’s, ‘Nope, he got it back, and now he’s putting pressure on me.’“There’s a strength to him, and a tenacity,” Slade added.
Great Britain’s Andy Lapthorne, who has lost to Sasson four times, described him as “a great competitor, very strong and moves well. He’s been a great asset to the quad division.”
Sasson said his most recent triumph at Roland Garros was even more difficult than his initial win in 2024.
“I didn’t play my best this year, so it was a real struggle,” he admitted. “I had to push myself and fight my way to the finals. It’s a different feeling, winning the second time. It brings amazing satisfaction.”
From the Open division to Quad play
Transitioning from the Open division to Quad play has had both pros and cons, Sasson explained. Open-division players generally hit harder and are faster, so the pace of the game is more intense. Quad play, by contrast, is slower – but more cerebral.
“It’s very different – more of a thoughtful game in Quads,” Sasson said. “In Open, it’s ‘This is my shot, I’m going to do what I do, and you have to adjust.’ In Quad, it’s more like, ‘I’m going to watch your game, see what you do, and find a way to attack your weakness.’
“It was a big adjustment my first year, but I’ve gotten used to it.”
Sasson has also adjusted well to life in Texas. He and his family moved there four years ago for his wife’s job, and he said he’s enjoyed both the strong Jewish community and training at River Oaks, a country club facility in Houston.
He works with Belgian coach Damien Martinquet, known for his success with other wheelchair players.
“He’s great – he always gives me a regular workout plan I can follow in Houston, and he knows so much tactically about the game,” Sasson said.
That training plan is crucial, especially as Sasson is more than two decades older than his main rivals, 22-year-old Niels Vink and 25-year-old Sam Schroder, both from the Netherlands.
“When my body isn’t feeling great, and I don’t want to go to the gym, I remind myself that those guys are definitely at the gym,” Sasson said with a chuckle. “I believe in my process, and in pushing myself to the limit.”
Encouraged by a new generation of Israeli wheelchair players
While he’s unsure how much longer he’ll continue competing, Sasson said he’s encouraged by a new generation of Israeli wheelchair players – particularly standout junior Sergei Lysov.
“He’s way too good for me to play, so I’ve never lost to him,” Sasson joked.
Sasson plans to return to Israel after Wimbledon and said he’d love to move back permanently with his family someday. He’s also looking forward to playing in New York, where he expects plenty of local support.
“I’ve heard from so many people there already who were very excited about Roland Garros and want to come see me,” he said. “Strangers on the street in Houston, stop me and congratulate me. The support from Israel, and from people in Houston, has been so wonderful and appreciated.”