Wheelchair tennis players will be financially supported by the ITF and the four Grand Slams ©Getty Images

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the organisers of the four Grand Slams have joined forces to pledge more than $300,000 (£239,000/€269,000) to wheelchair tennis.

It will provide grants to help wheelchair athletes, national associations and event hosts impacted by the suspension of play due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eighty-eight ITF-sanctioned wheelchair events have been postponed or cancelled since the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and ITF tours were suspended on March 12.

This includes the postponement of the French Open and the cancellation of Wimbledon, two of the four Grand Slams alongside the Australian Open and US Open. 

The Wheelchair Tennis Tour is currently suspended until July 31.

Players who earned less than $100,000 (£80,000/€90,000) in 2019 and ranked inside the top 20 will be eligible to apply for a grant. 

Those in the quads rankings must earn less than $100,000 and have been part of the top 15 in 2019 to be eligible. 

The scheme follows on from the Player Relief Programme, which will provide financial support to approximately 800 singles and doubles players from the ATP and the WTA.