Today's Article

"It's very mental, very physical, very technical."

You'd think it'd be even tougher in a wheelchair.

Spaniard Martin de la Puente is the third-ranked wheelchair tennis player in the world.

"When we play against each other, we don't see the wheelchair. We just see a tennis match."

And watching players 1smash the ball around the court, it's easy to see why.

"How good is it that these 2disabled people are playing tennis. That must be fun for them. It's like, no, no, this is serious. This is our job."

The job this week is the Georgia Open at the Rome Tennis Center, featuring dozens of the best and most modest wheelchair players in the world.

"If I'm being honest, I'm not very good at anything else."

Everyone here has a story of 3hardship, but they want to 4focus on the game.

"We train just as much, we travel just as much, we have our own tour just like they do."

Heath Davidson is also 38. He's 5aiming for a third 6Paralympics before retiring.

"I think anytime — once you hit 30 — I think it starts to go downhill."

Which is why my sporting days are 7long gone. 

Despite the focus, being in a wheelchair does 8pose unique challenges.

And when players have a problem with their chair, they come to Krige Schabort.

"We've done a lot of tires this morning."

He 9keeps this tournament rolling.

"I'm done with those. You wanna have, you know, at least 110 PSI, which is a lot."

The Georgia Open is part of a three-week series that also 10runs through Baton Rouge and Miami.

So don't feel sorry — these men and women don't.

"If I can make the Paralympics in L.A., I would love to be able to 11get through to that."

And honestly, they could probably 12crush you anyway.

"I think the best win is the one that is about to come."