Phillipson was among three British wheelchair tennis players to officially depart from the Tennis Foundation wheelchair tennis world-class programme in April, along with Marc McCarroll and double Paralympic bronze medallist Jamie Burdekin. 

But the former junior world number two and British number one from Bingham in Nottinghamshire has now decided to turn his attention to another sport.

"It’s definitely a change but I think it will really push my abilities in this sport and get to the best of what I can be," Phillipson told Notts TV’s Sports Week.

"I think this year I need to just keep training hard and get on the Team GB programme at the end of the year."

Three-time Paralympian Phillipson won a total of seven international career singles titles and 14 career doubles titles, reaching a highest men’s singles world ranking of 11 back in 2010.

He is looking ahead to this year’s European Para-canoe Championships, which are scheduled to take place in Bulgarian city Plovdiv from July 14 to 16.

"The main goal is to get confident in the boat, get my stroke rate right, get a good technique and see what happens," he said.

Phillipson is hoping to emulate the achievement of Emma Wiggs, who won gold in the women’s K1 200 metres KL2 event at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.

Wiggs switched from sitting volleyball to Para-canoeing after the London 2012 Paralympics.

She became a full-time athlete having trained at Nottingham’s Holme Pierrepont National Watersports Centre, the same place where Phillipson will work on his preparations for Tokyo 2020.

"I’d been doing wheelchair tennis for 20-odd years now so it’s a big step for me in my life, but it was time for a change," Phillipson added.

"I didn’t want to finish - I’m still getting my coaching qualifications for it and want to bring that inspiration to youngsters.

"I’ve still got it in me.

"I’ve still got another cycle for hopefully Tokyo and I still want to get a Paralympic medal."

Last month, it was confirmed that double Paralympic medallist Charlotte Henshaw had opted to swap swimming for canoeing.

The 30-year-old Briton won bronze in the 100m breaststroke SB6 at Rio 2016, four years after winning silver in the same event at London 2012.

She has competed in the pool for almost a decade, but is seeking a new challenge after also representing Britain at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics.

Henshaw won three World Championship medals during her swimming career as well as two golds at the European Championships.