ITF celebrates 50 years of wheelchair tennis with Hall of Champions
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is proud to mark the 50th anniversary of wheelchair tennis this year, celebrating five decades since Brad Parks founded the sport in California, USA, in 1976.
To recognise the milestone, the ITF has launched the Wheelchair Tennis Hall of Champions - a digital platform celebrating players, coaches and contributors who have played a pivotal role in the growth of the sport.
The first group of inductees (below) feature those Australians who have made significant contributions to the wheelchair game at an international and domestic level, alongside some of the sport’s biggest global names previously inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF). More inductees will be announced throughout 2026, and annually thereafter.
Stan Smith (USA) and Brad Parks (USA)
Australia: David Hall, Dylan Alcott, Mick Connell, Daniela Di Toro, John Newcombe, Greg Crump, Graeme Watts, Brian Tobin, Francois Vogelsberger
Other – Brad Parks (USA), Randy Snow (USA), Chantal Vandierendonck (NED), Monique Kalkman (NED), Esther Vergeer (NED), Rick Draney (USA).
The Australian inductees will be recognised at a special presentation ceremony hosted by ITF President David Haggerty on Tuesday 27 January in Melbourne – before the start of this year’s Australian Open Wheelchair Main Draw.
The ITF has invested heavily in the development of wheelchair tennis since its inception and, in 1998 became the first international sports federation to fully integrate the wheelchair discipline into its governance structure and wider activities. Today, the ITF supports its national associations to continue the sport’s growth worldwide, through development and funding programmes, and together with support from the Grand Slam Player Development Programme, the Cruyff Foundation and other partners, ITF provides opportunities for players to enter, participate and progress on the wheelchair pathway.
Wheelchair tennis became a full Paralympic medal sport at the 1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona and has become one of the Games’ most popular sports. At the 2024 Paris Games, record sell-out crowds at Roland Garros witnessed historic medal-winning moments, and with the qualification period for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games opening in July 2027, men’s, women’s and quad players will already be planning their route to medal success.
Wheelchair Tennis made its Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open in 2002, the first Slam to feature a full competitive draw. By 2007, all four Grand Slams included wheelchair competitions as part of the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour. Since then, draw sizes and prize money have increased across all divisions, with matches regularly played on show courts, further raising the sport’s profile on tennis’s biggest stages.
Today, the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour delivers more than 160 tournaments across over 40 countries, offering more than $6.7 million in prize money.
This year will also see the start of the ITF’s new Premier Tier level of competition, comprising more than 25 UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour events, and with more than 10 set to take place alongside and integrated with high-level professional Tour tournaments - creating an enhanced calendar for players with more integrated professional opportunities, higher standards at tournaments and elevated prize money.
The growth of junior tournaments worldwide has also strengthened player pathways and supported the next generation, while long-standing support from sponsors NEC, UNIQLO, the Cruyff Foundation and BNP Paribas has been vital in extending the sport’s global reach.
David Haggerty, ITF President, said: “From its inception to its place today on the world’s biggest stages, including the Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Event, all four Grand Slams, the World Team Cup, and the Wheelchair Masters, wheelchair tennis has become a hugely popular and global sport. It is a platform where players demonstrate incredible ambition and sporting excellence, inspiring audiences around the world. The development of the professional tour, supported by key sponsors NEC, UNIQLO, the Cruyff Foundation and BNP Paribas have been essential in creating pathways at every level and helping the sport reach communities worldwide.
"This anniversary is a chance to honour all those who have shaped the sport, from coaches, national associations, and volunteers to the athletes themselves. It is also an opportunity to look forward, support the next generation of players, and ensure that wheelchair tennis continues to evolve, excite, and break new ground. The last 50 years are a remarkable legacy, and the best of wheelchair tennis is still to come.”
Brad Parks said: “When wheelchair tennis began 50 years ago, it was simply about creating an opportunity to play the sport I loved in a different way. I could never have imagined how far it would grow or the impact it would have around the world.
“To see wheelchair tennis played at the Paralympic Games, on the biggest stages at the Grand Slams, and embraced by players, fans and federations globally is incredibly special. This anniversary is not just a celebration of the sport’s history, but of the athletes, coaches, organisers and supporters who believed in what was possible. I’m also grateful to the International Tennis Federation for the role it has played in supporting and developing the sport over the years, helping take wheelchair tennis from its early beginnings to a truly global stage. The future of wheelchair tennis is bright, and I’m proud to see the next generations continuing to push the sport forward.”
The ITF has also launched the ‘50 Years, 50 Milestones’ digital campaign to celebrate the anniversary, highlighting defining moments from wheelchair tennis’ history. The milestones will be shared weekly across ITF digital channels throughout 2026.