The ACT's top-ranked wheelchair tennis player Matthew Leggett wants to make a charge at the inaugural Canberra wheelchair open later this year.
Leggett suffers from osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disorder that affects the bones. It means Leggett's bones tend to break easily and don't grow as strong as everyone else's.
But his parents introduced him to tennis when he was a child and the 24-year-old hopes he can be a contender at the capital's new tournament at the end of September.
"I've always been in a wheelchair so growing up mum and dad realised it was something I could actually get involved in," Leggett said.
"It was something that I found myself being pretty decent at. I didn't take it seriously until two or three years ago when I got into contact with a few coaches in Canberra.
"They sorted me out with a proper tennis wheelchair from Wheelchair Sports NSW and that's when I started to take it a bit more seriously."
Leggett, the ranked No. 10 in Australia, helped launch the tournament at the Canberra Tennis Centre on Tuesday and believes the venue is a perfect spot for a wheelchair event.
Tennis ACT, the ACT government, Tennis Australia and Next Generation Clubs Australia spent $27 million upgrading the facilities three years ago.
"I didn't see a reason why [Canberra couldn't host wheelchair tennis], purely because of the new facilities out here," Leggett said.
"It gives the Canberra people more of an opportunity to find some interest in wheelchair tennis, I'm hoping it sparks more people to go out there and give it a go.
"It's really good to see people start to get behind things and really push wheelchair tennis in Canberra."
The North Woden tennis club member reached a career high ranking of world No.380 in March last year and has high expectations heading in to the Canberra wheelchair open.
"I'd love to go as far as I possibly can and hopefully make it to at least the second or third round," he said.
"That would be a fantastic result for myself down here in Canberra."
Tennis Australia's national pathway performance manager for wheelchair tennis Alex Jago said providing domestic tournament opportunities, like the Canberra wheelchair tennis open, will help players develop.
"Any competitive opportunity is important, we don't get enough," Jago said.
"ACT tennis is growing, why shouldn't every state get the opportunity to host such an event."
CANBERRA WHEELCHAIR TENNIS OPEN
September 29 - October 1 at Canberra Tennis Centre, Lyneham.
