Wheelchair Tennis Tournament Begins

The 16th U.S. Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships are underway at The Racquet Club of Irvine with more than 300 wheelchair athletes representing 18 different nations participating.

Monday’s play featured first-round singles in the men’s Open Division, as well as in the Men’s A, B and C divisions. Women’s singles and men’s and women’s doubles begin today.

Steve Welch of the University of Texas Arlington, the world’s No. 1-ranked wheelchair tennis player, opened defense of the men’s open title Monday with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over England’s Simon Hatt.