On Court, a Different Challenge : Wheelchair tennis: Handicapped players from around the world will compete at the U.S. Open and World Team Cup in Irvine.

Hitting a 90-m.p.h. serve isn’t unusual in professional tennis, unless the player is sitting in a wheelchair.

According to Holland Coach Illy Anastasi, that’s how hard the top men’s singles players will hit the ball at next week’s U.S. Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships and World Team Cup at the Racquet Club of Irvine.

It’s also how fast the women’s team from Holland could sweep through the World Team Cup, which begins today at the Racquet Club of Irvine.

The Dutch squad, seeking its sixth consecutive World Team Cup, consists of the International Wheelchair Tennis Federation’s top-ranked player, Chantal Vandierendonck, second-ranked Monique van den Bosch and fourth-ranked Ellen de Lange.

Vandierendonck, the three-time defending U.S. Open champion, is the seeded second at this year’s U.S. Open, which is regarded as the premier wheelchair tennis event of the season.

Van den Bosch, who won the U.S. Open in 1987, is the No. 1-seeded player for the tournament.

Although van den Bosch has won the German, Austrian, French and British Opens this season, like all wheelchair tennis players on the tour, she has struggled to find sponsorship to help pay for travel expenses.

“I work for Amigo, a company that makes lightweight wheelchairs for sports,” van den Bosch said. “They let me play in the tournaments and help pay for tournament expenses.”

Van den Bosch works at numerous clinics and seminars across Europe for Amigo, spreading the word to disabled people that sports are not just for the able-bodied.

“I remember visiting this one man who stayed in his house for five years because he had one of those non-adjustable chairs,” van den Bosch said.

“We showed him a lightweight chair and the first thing he said was, ‘It’s going to fall over with those slanted wheels.’

“Then, just seeing how surprised he was when he sat in the chair and saw how easy it was to move . . . it was a great feeling,” van den Bosch said.

Vandierendonck feels great about playing at the U.S. Open, which features the largest field in the tournament’s history, with more than 300 participants. Vandierendonck has won an unprecedented five titles in the past six years.

At age 18, Vandierendonck suffered injuries in a car accident, leaving her paralyzed from the middle of her back down. Before the accident, she was a junior champion along with her sister Nathalie, who is now a ranked player on the women’s pro tour.

“Watching the three play, you can tell that (Vandierendonck) was a good player before she began playing in a wheelchair,” Anastasi said.

“But while (de Lange’s) strokes aren’t as fluid, she covers the court like nobody else and gets to all the shots.

“It’s hard for an able-bodied person to appreciate how difficult it is to move around the court in a wheelchair,” Anastasi said.

Anastasi played on the the Assn. of Tennis Professionals tour in 1984-85 until a knee injury forced him to retire. He worked as a coach for the Queen’s Club in London before signing on recently as de Lange’s coach.

“Stefan Edberg makes $400,000 for appearing in an exhibition,” Anastasi said. “But that’s more than Ellen, Monique and Chantal combined will earn in their careers.”

De Lange said the top prize for any tournament on the tour is $2,500, but also noted that the sport is gaining popularity. Anastasi shared the optimism.

“These players are at the top of their field, so they should earn prize money as professionals,” Anastasi said. “I think eventually there will be more money for this tour.

Wheelchair Tennis Championship Facts

WHAT: World Team Cup and U.S. Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships.

WHEN: Today through Sunday, Oct. 13.

WHERE: Racquet Club of Irvine, 5 Sandburg Way, Irvine.

HIGHLIGHTS: Tournament begins with World Team Cup opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. today, followed by the beginning of Team Cup competition at 9:30. Cup competition continues through Sunday, with an awards ceremony at 5 p.m. Open division play begins at 8 a.m. Monday and concludes Oct. 13 with an awards ceremony at 3 p.m. and men’s open doubles at 3:30.