Blind Tennis: A World Championship in Vilnius to Showcase a Sport That Amazes Even Tennis Pros

A sport where hearing is paramount, blind tennis presents a concept that might seem difficult to grasp. However, consistent training, sharp hearing, and determination make it possible.

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Instead of the usual tennis ball, blind tennis uses a special audible ball. It contains special sound-emitting elements. Based on this, players determine the ball's location, direction, speed, and their distance to it. The most important things here are concentration, focus, and all attention directed to the sound.

"Instead of the usual tennis ball, blind tennis uses a special audible ball. It contains special sound-emitting elements. Based on this, players determine the ball's location, direction, speed, and their distance to it. The most important things here are concentration, focus, and all attention directed to the sound," explains Aidas Danilovas, the World Championship director.

The court also differs from classical tennis. It is smaller, the net is lower, and the key lines are marked with raised tactile lines that athletes feel with their feet or racket. This helps players orient themselves even if they are completely blind. Another crucial rule is that the ball is allowed to bounce up to three times. "For example, in the B1 category, where completely blind athletes compete, three bounces are allowed. The same applies to the B2 category. Others allow two or one bounce. This maintains the game's dynamics while ensuring athletes with different levels of residual vision can compete on equal terms," says Danilovas.

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For example, in the B1 category, where completely blind athletes compete, three bounces are allowed. The same applies to the B2 category. Others allow two or one bounce. This maintains the game's dynamics while ensuring athletes with different levels of residual vision can compete on equal terms.

Blind tennis matches have one particularly strict rule that spectators must follow: absolute silence must be maintained in the stands while a point is in progress. "Theoretically, this rule also applies to tennis, but we have seen stands erupt in applause in the middle of a point more than once. In blind tennis, any additional sound can prevent players from hearing the ball. Therefore, spectators applaud only after the point ends. Because of this, the atmosphere of blind tennis is often compared to, for example, golf – concentration here is no less important than skill," says the Vilnius resident.

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Theoretically, this rule also applies to tennis, but we have seen stands erupt in applause in the middle of a point more than once. In blind tennis, any additional sound can prevent players from hearing the ball. Therefore, spectators applaud only after the point ends. Because of this, the atmosphere of blind tennis is often compared to, for example, golf – concentration here is no less important than skill.

He notes that the first few minutes of experiencing blind tennis often change people's perceptions of the sport. "Blind tennis very quickly changes a spectator's view. A person who comes sees not a disability, but a sport – speed, tactics, reaction, and great professionalism. This is exactly what we want to show to tennis lovers who will visit the World Championship in Vilnius." Modern blind tennis originated in Japan in the 1990s and has since spread globally. In Lithuania, the sport began only a few years ago, with the first training sessions in 2022. Currently, about 30 players train in the country, with centers in Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, and Šiauliai. Seven Lithuanian tennis players already have international classifications and are earning world ranking points.

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Blind tennis very quickly changes a spectator's view. A person who comes sees not a disability, but a sport – speed, tactics, reaction, and great professionalism. This is exactly what we want to show to tennis lovers who will visit the World Championship in Vilnius.