BRITISH OPEN WHEELCHAIR TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Venue: City of Nottingham Tennis Centre Date: Monday 20 July-Saturday 25 July
INVACARE WORLD TEAM CUP
Venue: City of Nottingham Tennis Centre Date: Monday 27 July-Sunday 2 August  Norfolk was awarded an OBE in the Queen's birthday honours last month |
Double Paralympic champion Peter Norfolk will bid to retain his British Open quad singles title in Nottingham when the tournament starts on Monday. The Hampshire-based 48-year-old is hoping to claim his second big tournament of the year. "I said after Beijing that this year would be quieter and I have just focused on our bigger events," he told BBC Sport. "I'm doing some good training and am looking forward to the British Open." The tournament signals the start of a busy fortnight for the world's top players with the British Open, one of the Super Series events (Grand Slam equivalents) starting it all off. It will be immediately followed by the World Team Cup - the Davis and Fed Cups of wheelchair tennis - also at the City of Nottingham Tennis Centre. Norfolk, who plays in the quad division for players who are disabled in three or more limbs, and with his racket taped to his hand, took some time out from the sport after winning his second singles gold in Beijing last September. With the arrival of baby Joseph Peter late last year, he admits his priorities have changed. The world number one is relishing taking part in his home tournament but knows he will face a tough challenge in Nottingham with the rest of the top 10-ranked quad players all due to take part, led by Norfolk's great rival David Wagner of the USA. "Fatherhood is now giving me a little more sleep that it was a few months ago," he admits.  | 606: DEBATE |
"It is always difficult to get going again the year after the Paralympics and stay on the treadmill. "I played in Australia at the start of the year and won there and also in Florida and Japan. I wasn't feeling particularly well during all that time but now I am feeling good again. "I lost to David in the Japan Open final so I'm looking forward to having a chance to get revenge. But with all of the top players there it makes it interesting. "There is a certain amount of pressure as both defending champion and world number one but I like those things and gives me a bit more of a boost knowing that everyone is out to beat me." As well as Norfolk, the reigning men's and women's singles champions Japan's Shingo Kunieda and Esther Vergeer will be defending their titles in Nottingham. Kunieda, who was beaten in the recent men's doubles final at Wimbledon, will face a stern challenge from the likes of French duo Stephane Houdet and Michael Jeremiasz and former champion Robin Ammerlaan of the Netherlands. Vergeer, whose unbeaten singles record stands at 360 matches, will be bidding for her ninth successive British Open title. The 28-year-old Dutchwoman clinched the inaugural Wimbledon ladies doubles title earlier this month with compatriot Korie Homan, who will pose a big threat to Vergeer.
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