Australian comic and tv persona Adam Hills is a passionate tennis participant and hopes to encourage extra individuals to play the game he loves.
Australia, 12 September 2024 | Leigh Rogers
Australian comic and tv persona Adam Hills is proudly fronting a brand new advertising and marketing marketing campaign for Tennis Australia.
The “Tennis for Each Physique” marketing campaign, which launched final week, highlights the adaptive and inclusive pathways that ensures tennis is for everyone.
It is a trigger that Hills, who was born with no proper foot, is keen about, as he explains on this interview with tennis.com.au.
Adam, inform us about your connection to tennis?
Most individuals most likely recognise me because the host of Spicks and Specks, however what they won’t know, is that I’ve additionally been taking part in tennis since I used to be 5 years outdated. I’ve performed competitively, I even coached for some time, however it was all the time in opposition to able-bodied individuals.
Having a incapacity hasn’t held you again from you taking part in?
I’ve a prosthetic foot, which actually doesn’t cease me from shifting that a lot. I keep in mind attending the Paralympic Video games at Beijing in 2008 and I used to be speaking to the coach of the Australian wheelchair tennis staff. When he heard I can play, he invited me to leap in a wheelchair and practice with them. I simply thought ‘No, that doesn’t sound correct’. However the way in which it’s, my incapacity requires me to play wheelchair tennis. I keep in mind considering on the time, ‘I want there was a greater approach I might play in opposition to individuals with related disabilities, however whereas standing’.
You’ve since found that’s doable, haven’t you?
Fortunately, I’ve. It seems there’s a rising motion around the globe referred to as Para Standing Tennis. The president is a Spanish man Ivan Corretja, whose brother Alex is a former world No.2. He has a below-knee amputation and is main the Para Standing Tennis motion, which is now recognised by the Worldwide Tennis Federation and performed in additional than 21 international locations. I performed within the first Para Standing Tennis match in Sydney final yr. It was run by Metropolis Neighborhood Tennis, who often run adaptive classes, and was supported by Tennis Australia. There have been solely 5 us in that match, so all of the classes had been lumped in collectively. But it surely was a promising begin.
Are you able to clarify how Para Standing Tennis works?
It’s standing tennis for individuals with disabilities, however there are completely different guidelines, relying in your incapacity. In case you are a below-knee or an elbow amputee, it’s simply the usual guidelines of tennis. For those who’re brief stature, an above-knee amputee or when you’ve received cerebral palsy that restricts your motion, you then get two bounces, which ranges the taking part in area.
> LEARN MORE: Para Standing Tennis
What’s your personal type like on the tennis courtroom? We hear you typically hit with Australian legend and former world No.1 doubles participant John Fitzgerald.
Effectively in keeping with Fitzy, my forehand is my greatest shot. It’s very stable and constant. The bizarre factor is my backhand was once actually good, however I’ve misplaced it.
What did you be taught whereas taking pictures the “Tennis for Each Physique” advertising and marketing marketing campaign with Tennis Australia?
I’ve been actually targeted on constructing the profile of Para Standing Tennis and exploring the way in which we are able to make this extra accessible for extra Australians, which Tennis Australia is fortunately supporting. So, it’s been nice to additionally be taught extra in regards to the completely different adaptive codecs accessible. It was fascinating to look at how individuals adapt to their disabilities to play tennis as properly. From wheelchair tennis to pathways for these with Blind and Low Imaginative and prescient (BLV), an mental impairment (PWII) or Deaf and Onerous of Listening to (DHoH), there actually is one thing for everybody.
> LEARN MORE: Inclusion and Range pathways in Australian tennis
Why do these adaptive codecs and pathways matter?
I’ve performed tennis my entire life, so it’s not like I used to be ever excluded from the sport, I simply wasn’t in a position to play in opposition to different individuals like me. Having pathways for individuals of all skills opens up an entire bunch of extra potentialities. It additionally helps foster a fantastic sense of belonging, which generally is a massive problem for these of us with a incapacity.
What was your motivation for fronting this marketing campaign? Do you hope to see extra individuals with a incapacity take up tennis?
Most positively! Through the years I’ve spoken to a number of Paralympians, who’ve gained gold medals of their respective sports activities, however have stated they might have a lot somewhat performed tennis. It simply hasn’t all the time been an accessible possibility for everyone, however that actually is altering now, which is so pleasing to see. This marketing campaign will not be solely about these with a incapacity both. It is usually about selling the game for gamers of all ages, stage and identification and dispelling myths about who can and may’t play tennis. Whether or not you’re younger or outdated, match or unfit, straight or queer, or solely have one foot. Everyone seems to be welcome and able to taking part in tennis.
Lastly, what’s your message to these contemplating taking part in tennis?
Do it, what are you ready for?! Tennis is a number of enjoyable and actually is an inclusive sport. Get out on courtroom and provides it your greatest shot.
Discover your solution to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on courtroom and have some enjoyable!