VENTURA : 50 Compete in Wheelchair Tennis Event

A drunk driver took away Glenn McIntyre’s ability to walk 10 years ago. But being paralyzed from the waist down hasn’t robbed McIntyre of the ability to play tennis.

On Saturday, McIntyre, who is ranked ninth nationally in the “A” division of the National Foundation of Wheelchair Tennis, had just won the first set against an old foe from Orange County. Down a game in the second set, the 33-year-old relied on some of the skilled strokes that make him such a tough competitor.

“That’s called a dink ,” McIntyre said after tapping a ball that dropped to the ground just over the net.

“That’s called hell ,” said Joe Babakanian, 31, who charged after the ball in his wheelchair.

About 50 tennis players stormed the courts at Camino Real Park in Ventura on Saturday for the fifth annual Ventura Coast Classic Wheelchair Tennis Tournament. Players from age 10 to 64 will compete through Sunday afternoon for trophies, gift certificates and, most important, points that help determine national rankings.

“That’s why it’s so fierce,” said McIntyre, a desk officer with the Oxnard Police Department and the tournament’s founder. “That’s why it’s so hard.”

In wheelchair tennis, balls can bounce twice rather than only once. Sports wheelchairs can cost more than $3,000 for light and strong aluminum models that feature safety straps for the player’s feet.

In this tournament, sponsored in part by the city of Ventura and a wheelchair maker called Quickie, a tennis official keeps tight watch over the eight courts to make sure play is fair.

Based on the results at this tournament and others this summer, players will move on to the wheelchair tennis U.S. Open set for September in Irvine.

Lisa Hilborn, director of wheelchair sports at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center in Downey, said wheelchair tennis players must deal with more than just their disabilities.

“The biggest challenge is the stereotype,” said Hilborn, who coaches eight players competing at the tournament. “People see the chair, not the athlete. They say ‘how nice’ instead of ‘look at that great swing.’ ”

Simi Valley resident Lou Cicciari, 35, chatted with other players after losing two sets. His game, he said, could stand some improvement.

“My backhand needs some work,” Cicciari said.

For someone who once played only football and basketball, Michael Wiggins has a winning backhand and forehand. The 12-year-old was resting on a shady patch of grass after trouncing his opponent in two sets--6-0, 6-0.

“It feels good, but winning isn’t everything,” said Michael, a Hollywood resident who was paralyzed after a bullet clipped one of the nerves in his back in a drive-by shooting three years ago.

“It’s just about having some fun.”