# Elite Wheelchair Tennis Stars Face Financial Hurdles at Swiss Open Geneva

**By Amelie Fontaine**  \nPublished July 16, 2026  \nUpdated July 17, 2026

> As the Swiss Open Geneva brings the world's best wheelchair tennis players to TC Drizia-Miremont, the tournament highlights the stark contrast between professional-level training and the financial struggles of the athletes.

The 39th Swiss Open Geneva, held at the Tennis Club Drizia-Miremont from July 14 to July 18, 2026, serves as a premier showcase for the world's elite wheelchair tennis talent. While these athletes perform at a professional standard—training extensively and traveling globally—they continue to face significant financial challenges, remaining largely dependent on sponsors to fund their careers.

## A strong field arrives with a familiar problem

The tournament has drawn a massive international field, featuring between **80 and 90 athletes** representing more than **25 different nationalities**. The competition level is described by tournament president Sebastian Mozer as "clearly the elite of wheelchair tennis." High-profile participants include Spain's **Martín de la Puente**, currently ranked third in the world, and the Netherlands' **Jiske Griffioen**. Additionally, the event features six players from the global top 10 in the quad category.

A significant logistical challenge for the players this year is the sudden surface transition. Following the conclusion of Wimbledon, players must move quickly from the grass courts of London to the clay courts of the Drizia-Miremont facility in Geneva. The tournament committee is currently working with the International Tennis Federation to explore potential calendar changes to alleviate this difficulty.

## Elite competition still carries a personal bill

The Swiss Open Geneva is a critical stop on the international circuit, occurring during a period of significant growth for the discipline. As wheelchair tennis celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026, the sport has seen increased momentum following the **Paris 2024 Paralympic Games**. Public interest is rising, evidenced by major Grand Slam finals, such as the men's wheelchair tennis final at Wimbledon, attracting nearly 10,000 spectators.

However, a disconnect remains between the athletic dedication required and the financial rewards available. These athletes maintain professional schedules, training four to five times per week and traveling for twelve to fourteen weeks annually. Despite this level of commitment, the lack of massive commercial revenue compared to traditional ATP players means players must navigate a career built on sponsorship and personal sacrifice.

## Where the financial pressure appears

The complexity of professional wheelchair tennis extends beyond the scoreboard, involving specialized physical and technical requirements:

- **Physical Demands and Health:** Athletes face unique physiological stresses. Physiotherapists report frequent issues with shoulders and elbows due to the high intensity of play. Furthermore, for paraplegic and tetraplegic players, heat management is a critical safety concern because they may struggle with thermoregulation. Medical teams must ensure ice supplies are readily available to prevent heat-related issues during matches.

- **Technical Equipment:** Players utilize highly specialized wheelchairs designed specifically for tennis, featuring significantly tilted wheels for stability and maneuverability. The maintenance of this equipment is vital; technicians must be able to perform emergency repairs within a 20-minute window to prevent athlete disqualification.

- **Training Support:** For the third consecutive year, the tournament has implemented a **sparring partner program**. This year, a group of seven trained partners was provided to help top stars like Martín de la Puente and Angelica Bernal fine-tune their skills. This program not only aids training but also fosters inclusion between wheelchair and able-bodied tennis players. As sparring partner Joachim Scribante noted, "I have enormous respect for them. They play in a chair, but I consider them able-bodied players."

## What Geneva can reveal

As the tournament reaches its conclusion on **Saturday, July 18**, attention will turn to the final matches and how the surface transition from grass to clay influenced the eventual champions. Additionally, keep an eye on the ongoing discussions between tournament organizers and the International Tennis Federation regarding the evolution of the global wheelchair tennis calendar to better accommodate the needs of the world's top players.

## Sources

- [www.letemps.ch](https://www.letemps.ch/sport/a-geneve-les-joueurs-de-tennis-fauteuil-vivent-comme-des-pros-sans-en-avoir-les-moyens) — original
- [www.europesays.com](https://www.europesays.com/ch-fr/216735/) — original
- [www.letemps.ch](https://www.letemps.ch/sport/tennis-fauteuil-roulant-dargent-vrais-professionnels) — original
- [www.lemanbleu.ch, Léman Bleu Télévision](https://www.lemanbleu.ch/fr/Actualite/Sport/2022072199170-Swiss-Open-Geneva-les-dessous-d-un-tournoi-de-tennis-fauteuil.html) — original
- [www.europesays.com](https://www.europesays.com/ch-fr/219576/) — original