Ben Weekes

Ben Weekes

2012 Australian Paralympic Team portrait of Weekes
Personal information
Nationality Australia
Born (1984-09-20) 20 September 1984
Website www.benweekestennis.com
Sport
Country Australia
Sport Tennis

Ben Weekes (born 20 September 1984) is an Australian wheelchair tennis player. He was selected to represent Australia at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in wheelchair tennis men's doubles where he is scheduled to be partnered with Adam Kellerman.

Personal

Weekes was born on 20 September 1984 in Strathfield, New South Wales.[1][2] He has an identical twin brother, and two other brothers.[1] He is an incomplete paraplegic as a result of a blood clot forming in his spine when he was thirteen years old.[1][3] He is a composer and pianist, having received formal training in this area.[1][3] His music has been recorded and he has played at the BarMe Cabaret Bar, Angel Place and the Sydney Opera House.[1][3] Other sports he participates in are swimming and basketball.[1]

Tennis

Weekes is a wheelchair tennis player.[1][4] When playing, he follows the same rules as his able-bodied counterparts except the ball is allowed to bounce twice.[5][6] He became interested in the sport after watching David Hall play it at the 2000 Summer Paralympics,[1][3] and would go on to practice regularly with Hall, until Hall retired from the sport in 2006.[3] He has been coached by Kathy Fahim.[3]

Weekes first represented Australia in 2002.[1] That year, he competed in the Junior World Cup where he finished second.[1] At the 2004 World Cup, his team finished second.[1] He competed at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens. He won his first round match,[1] and was knocked out in the second round.[1][2]

Weekes competed at the 2008 Summer Paralympics, playing doubles with Michael Dobbie.[1][2][4] Going into the 2008 Games, he practised twice a day on court, six times a week.[3] He was primarily being sponsored by Tennis Australia who provided him with A$15,000 a year.[3]

In 2008, Weekes played some doubles matches with Adam Kellerman.[7] At the 2011 South African Open, he made the finals.[1] He was selected to represent Australia at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in tennis.[2][5][7] In the doubles event, he is due to be partnered by Adam Kellerman.[6][7] The Games will be his third.[2][8] His national team coach is Greg Crump.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Ben Weekes". Australia: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Murray, Oliver. "Ben aims to deliver at Paralympics". Inner West Courier. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Tennis – Sports – Olympics". Melbourne: The Age. 2 August 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  4. 1 2 Olivia McGrath (10 September 2008). "Australia up to 26 medals". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  5. 1 2 "Paralympic dream comes true for Kendall tennis club player". CCamden Haven Courier. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  6. 1 2 Chen, Torin (28 June 2012). "Adam's Paralympic dream — Tennis". Sydney: North Shore Times. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 Chen, Torin. "Adam the ace set for medal". North Shore Times. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  8. ↑ "Tennis guru for Paralympics". Port Macquarie Independent. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
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