Ben Weekes (born 20 September 1984) is an Australian wheelchair tennis player. He represented Australia at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, his fifth Games.[1]
 2016 Australian Paralympic team portrait | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Australian |
| Born | 20 September 1984 |
| Website | www |
| Sport | |
| Country |  Australia |
| Sport | Wheelchair tennis |
Personal edit
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Weekes was born on 20 September 1984 in Strathfield, New South Wales.[2][3] He has an identical twin brother, and two other brothers.[2] He is an incomplete paraplegic as a result of a blood clot forming in his spine when he was thirteen years old.[2][4] He is a composer and pianist, having received formal training in this area.[2][4] His music has been recorded and he has played at the BarMe Cabaret Bar, Angel Place and the Sydney Opera House.[2][4]
Other sports he participates in are swimming and basketball.[2]
Tennis edit
Weekes is a wheelchair tennis player.[2][5] When playing, he follows the same rules as his non-disabled counterparts except the ball is allowed to bounce twice.[6][7] He became interested in the sport after watching David Hall play it at the 2000 Summer Paralympics,[2][4] and would go on to practice regularly with Hall, until Hall retired from the sport in 2006.[4] He has been coached by Kathy Fahim.[4]
Weekes first represented Australia in 2002.[2] That year, he competed in the Junior World Cup where he finished second.[2] At the 2004 World Cup, his team finished second.[2] He competed at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens. He won his first-round match,[2] and was knocked out in the second round.[2][3]
Weekes competed at the 2008 Summer Paralympics, playing doubles with Michael Dobbie.[2][3][5] Going into the 2008 Games, he practised twice a day on court, six times a week.[4] In 2008, Weekes played some doubles matches with Adam Kellerman.[8]
At the 2011 South African Open, he made the finals.[2] At the 2012 Summer Paralympics, he made the second round of the men's singles and he teamed with Adam Kellerman in the men's doubles. They lost in the first round.[9][3][6][8] In the doubles event, he is due to be partnered by Adam Kellerman.[7][8]
At the 2016 Rio Paralympics, Weekes lost to Stefan Olsson (SWE) 0-2 (0–6, 3–6) in the round of 32 in the Men's Singles and with Adam Kellerman lost in the round of 16 in the Men's Doubles.[10]
At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, Weekes lost in the Round of 32 in the Men's Singles and Doubles.
References edit
- ^ "Australia's Wheelchair Tennis Quartet Confirmed For Tokyo 2020". Paralympics Australia. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Ben Weekes". Australia: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2012. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- ^ a b c d Murray, Oliver. "Ben aims to deliver at Paralympics". Inner West Courier. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Tennis – Sports – Olympics". Melbourne: The Age. 2 August 2008. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- ^ a b Olivia McGrath (10 September 2008). "Australia up to 26 medals". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- ^ a b "Paralympic dream comes true for Kendall tennis club player". CCamden Haven Courier. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- ^ a b Chen, Torin (28 June 2012). "Adam's Paralympic dream — Tennis". North Shore Times. Sydney. Archived from the original on 4 April 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- ^ a b c Chen, Torin. "Adam the ace set for medal". North Shore Times. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- ^ "Ben Weekes". International Paralympic Committee Historical Results Database. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
- ^ "Ben Weekes". Rio Paralympics Official site. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
External links edit
