Wheelchair tennis was first contested at the Summer Paralympics as a demonstration sport in 1988, with two events being held (men's and women's singles).

It became an official medal-awarding sport in 1992 and has been competed at every Summer Paralympics since then.

Only men's and women's singles were held at the 1988 Paralympics, when it was a demonstration sport.

These were joined by men's and women's doubles events four years later when the sport turned an official event.

Until the 2024 Games, only two women competed in the event, the Dutch Monique de Beer and the Canadian Sarah Hunter, both competed in 2004 and 2008, but the Dutch is still the only woman to win a medal at the Paralympics, a bronze in the doubles event in 2004.