Maddy sees the world through a 'glitter jar' but has still become a national tennis champion

The first sign that something was wrong with Maddy Kelly's vision was when she started missing the ball at tennis.

Two years ago, at the age of 11, the Wodonga local's vision was deteriorating rapidly.

"The size of the writing in [my] textbooks started getting smaller and I couldn't read it … so I started moving the book closer to my face," Maddy said.

She was diagnosed with Stargardt disease — a genetic eye condition that damages the macula, causing partial or complete loss of central vision.

"My vision is like a glitter jar that's always swirling around … with all different kinds of glitter inside, and the flashes of light and glitter is what I see," Maddy said.

But now the 13-year-old is a national tennis champion.

Since March last year Maddy has been travelling the country to play blind and low vision (BLV) tennis and is now the top-ranked junior female player in Australia.

She and fellow rising star, Grace Hobbs, hold the womens B3-4 doubles title — and Maddy is ranked second in the B4 women's singles age group, in which she competes against adults.

"It's a bit challenging, but it's great practice," Maddy said.

How it works

BLV tennis is played on a smaller version of a standard tennis court.

Players are categorised based on their level of vision, which determines how many times the ball can bounce before it is returned over the net.

B1 athletes have no functional vision and must wear a blindfold on the court. They are allowed four bounces.

B2 players are allowed three bounces and B3 athletes can have two.

B4 players such as Maddy can only let the ball bounce once.

BLV tennis balls are larger and softer than a standard yellow tennis ball.

The spongy outer material holds a golf-sized chamber in the middle, filled with ball bearings, that rattle when the ball is moved or hit.

"It's really helpful, except when you're playing on a really echoey court," Maddy said.

"It's really hard to hear and hard to see at the same time, which is not a good mix."

More than sport

Maddy's mum, Rachel Ciantar-Kelly, said she got goosebumps thinking about the first competition Maddy entered.

"She just came to life … people were talking to her, not about her vision impairment, but about her tennis," she said.

"It became less about her disability and more about her ability."

Maddy and her parents have found a community and support through the BLV tennis world.

"That sense of understanding and knowing what people are going through, it just lifts your spirit," Maddy said.

Adaptive sport a hit with players

According to Tennis Australia, BLV tennis is the fastest-growing blind sport in the country, with more than 120 players competing at tournaments since they began four years ago.

"We've gone from running a pilot tournament in Sydney and Adelaide to a full calendar … six state tournaments, national championships, community-level events and weekly leagues," Tennis Australia's diversity, equity and inclusion pathways and events specialist Ben Dew said.

The sport's popularity has opened doors for players such as Maddy.

"My dream is to play at one of the big tournaments — the Australian Open or, better yet, Wimbledon," she said.

A spot on centre court is closer than ever, with BLV tennis to make its debut at next year's Australian Open.

Tennis Australia is set to announce a "showdown" event between Team Australia and Team World that will feature 32 of the world's best BLV tennis players.

Maddy is not expected to be on the team list for the inaugural competition, but with plans to take on the international scene in the new year, the sky is the limit for the young champion.

"You feel included, you don't feel like an outcast — it's just a wonderful community," she said.