French wheelchair tennis pioneers honoured in ITF Hall of Champions
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has welcomed the latest inductees into the Wheelchair Tennis Hall of Champions, recognising a distinguished group of French players and contributors for their impact on the sport.
The induction ceremony took place on Court Suzanne-Lenglen during the wheelchair tennis event at Roland Garros, with the inductees honoured at a special presentation hosted by ITF President David Haggerty and French Tennis Federation (FFT) President Gilles Moretton.
Launched earlier this year as part of the ITF’s celebrations marking 50 years of wheelchair tennis, the Wheelchair Tennis Hall of Champions is a digital platform recognising key figures who have helped shape the sport’s growth and success worldwide.
French Inductees - Players
- Florence Alix-Gravellier - France’s most successful female Paralympic wheelchair tennis player; Beijing 2008 singles and doubles bronze medallist, former doubles world No.1, two-time Australian Open doubles champion, Doubles Masters champion, and World Team Cup medallist.
- Laurent Giammartini - Wheelchair Tennis Tour star; NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters singles champion (1995), two-time ITF World Champion, former world No.1 in singles and doubles, Paralympic gold medallist at Seoul 1988, and long serving World Team Cup medallist for France.
- Michael Jeremiasz - Four-time Paralympic medallist, including men’s doubles gold at the 2008 Games; former world No.1 in singles and doubles, four-time Doubles Masters champion, nine-time Grand Slam champion, World Team Cup winner, and Tournament Director of the French Riviera Open.
French Inductees - Contributors:
- Pierre Fusade - Pioneer of wheelchair tennis in France, former President of the International Wheelchair Tennis Association, and the first French recipient of the Brad Parks Award (2001), the sport’s highest honour.
- Yannick Noah - Long-time ambassador and advocate for wheelchair tennis since the 1990s; coach of the French men’s wheelchair tennis team since 2022 and a leading figure in the sport’s development, growth and visibility through his role with the French Tennis Federation.
- Jean-Paul Cournet - Recipient of the Brad Parks Award in 2011, recognised for 25 years of service to wheelchair tennis through the organisation of events at Les Petits As in Tarbes, long associated with the Cruyff Foundation Junior Masters and now part of the wheelchair tennis tour.
- Jean-Pierre Limborg - Key figure in introducing and developing wheelchair tennis in France and recipient of the Brad Parks Award in 2009 for his contribution to the sport.
Founded by Brad Parks in 1976, wheelchair tennis is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. The ITF has played a central role in the sport’s development and became the first international sports federation to fully integrate wheelchair tennis into its governance structure in 1998.
Since becoming a full Paralympic medal sport in 1992, wheelchair tennis has grown into a global sport, with wheelchair tennis draws now featured at all four Grand Slams and record crowds at Roland Garros during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games highlighting its growing appeal. Today, the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour features more than 160 tournaments across over 40 countries.
The Wheelchair Tennis Hall of Champions inductees can be viewed here.