The UNIQLO Interview: Dr Graeme Watts

Most evenings, Dr Graeme Watts receives a warm reminder of his role as one of the key figures in the founding of wheelchair tennis. At the end of another day spent enjoying a rather busy retirement, the 83-year-old pours himself a drink from the Brad Parks Award whiskey decanter he received in 1997 for his contributions to the sport’s success.

“After almost 40 years many of us have quietly passed into history,” the Australian insists, but it is that history which set the groundwork for wheelchair tennis as we know it today: a leading Paralympic and Grand Slam sport, played on every continent across three divisions. It is all a far cry from the humble beginnings he first encountered in 1982.

A university professor whose athletic roots lay in track sprinting and middle-distance running in his youth, Watts may not seem the most likely candidate to lead wheelchair tennis toward the mainstream. But after first encountering the sport on the campus courts, he proved to be the right man at the right time for a sport still in its infancy.

“My university background was largely in psychology,” Watts said. “I was for many years in the senior administration of the Cumberland College of Health Sciences preparing allied health students for careers in such professions as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, nursing and the like. The college subsequently merged with the University of Sydney where I was appointed as a Professor of Behavioural Science.

“At the college it was known that I was supportive of community groups sharing the college resources, and several wheelchair basketballers asked if they could try the new sport of wheelchair tennis on our courts,” Watts said. Beyond simply allowing the facilities to be used for fortnightly junior wheelchair sessions, “I took an interest in their request and began to build some structure around their activity.”

'For some years I appointed a research assistant who incorporated wheelchair tennis and junior wheelchair sports camps into their academic role!'

Within a year, Watts had introduced a coaching framework to the sessions and conducted the first Junior Wheelies Xmas Camp at the College in 1983, with students at the college enrolled as volunteers. The camps were held at the college for the next 13 years and are still running to this day.

Around the same time, Watts established the Australian Wheelchair Tennis Association, striking a balance between his academic and extra-curricular roles both for himself and his department. “Wheelchair tennis administration was run from my office, both national and international,” he said. “For some years I appointed a research assistant who incorporated wheelchair tennis and junior wheelchair sports camps into their academic role!”

It soon became clear that wheelchair tennis required an international governing body. Alongside Brad Parks, the sport’s US -based founder, and Great Britain’s John Noakes, founder of the European Wheelchair Tennis Federation, Watts was instrumental in bringing the sport’s respective regions together as the International Wheelchair Tennis Federation. Parks was made president, Noakes the treasurer and spokesman, and Watts its secretary.

“Graeme has been a huge influence on the sport, not only in Australia but internationally as well,” says Parks. “His influences were critical in the development of our first international organisation, the International Wheelchair Tennis Federation. We needed his detail-oriented leadership and without him wheelchair tennis may not be where it is today.

“Graeme also had an important role with wheelchair tennis being played in the Grand Slams,” Parks adds. “His introduction of a wheelchair tennis tournament at the Australian Open led the way to the first Grand Slam to have wheelchair tennis compete in one of its prestigious events.”

In 1989, Watts led the team that organised the first Australian Wheelchair Tennis Open in Melbourne, as well as the Sydney International Wheelchair Tennis Open – a seminal moment for the sport.

“From the beginning it was projected that the Australian Wheelchair Tennis Open would one day be incorporated into the Australian Open as a Grand Slam event,” he explains. “The process was slow but by increments this objective subsequently became a reality and soon after the Sydney tournament came under Tennis Australia management.”

'David Hall was, in my opinion, the first wheelchair tennis player to have totally adopted a professional approach - this was to keep him the top player for many years'

The trend escalated worldwide. After years of working closely together, the IWTF was fully integrated into the ITF in 1998, where the sport’s growth continues to this day. All four majors now host singles and doubles draws for the men’s, women’s and quad divisions, while the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour provides a pathway to elite professional careers, as well as the Paralympic Games.

Watts’ own role grew as well, beyond the tennis court: “On my retirement I became Chairman of the Australian Wheelchair Sports Association and a Director of the Australian Paralympic Committee,” he said – though his academic pursuits continued as well.

“In a different line of endeavour I enrolled as a graduate student in the Department of Studies in Religion at the University of Sydney where I was able to follow an interest in the relationship between disability and spirituality,” he added.

“This began with a focus on athletes with a physical disability but subsequently moved to a continuing interest in spirituality and intellectual disability. I have for many years now been closely associated with a community providing group accommodation for adults with an intellectual disability.”

As wheelchair tennis has thrived, so have Australian players – and Watts points to the impact of three players when asked for the cream of his compatriots.

“David Hall, Dylan Alcott and Danni di Toro are clearly the stand-out wheelchair tennis players to have represented Australia,” Watts said. “For his part, David Hall was, in my opinion, the first wheelchair tennis player to have totally adopted a professional approach to the game, and this was to keep him the top player for many years.

“Dylan Alcott has moved wheelchair tennis into the public area like no other and has become something of a mega-media star. And Danni di Toro, who I have known since the time of her accident as a young schoolgirl, has been an outstanding Paralympian, currently co-captain of the Australian Paralympic team and mentor to many. She is a gem.”

'While I am totally supportive of the direction that wheelchair tennis has taken, a golden era for me was the ‘80s at the Racquet Club of Irvine. We were so fortunate to share this experience'

Wheelchair tennis, in both Australia and the world at large, has come a long way since those fortnightly practice sessions in Sydney. But those who shared in those formative years appreciate Watts’ impact on both the sport and wheelchair sport at large, which in 2015 saw him appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia.

“Graeme is a true and cherished friend and I cannot thank him enough for all he has contributed to the sport of wheelchair tennis,” Parks said in tribute.

“It is my hope that wheelchair tennis will continue to be absorbed into all levels of mainstream tennis,” said Watts – though he admits to a touch of nostalgia when it comes to his fondest memories.

“While I am totally supportive of the direction that wheelchair tennis has taken, a golden era for me was the ‘80s at the Racquet Club of Irvine and the US Open of those years, organised by Brad and Wendy Parks.

“At the time they were so young that it would never have occurred to them that they may not have been able to keep on top of the task. With a totally amateur and inclusive assembly sometimes exceeding 300 players, the atmosphere was one of delight in everyone’s company and enthusiasm for the prospects ahead. We were so fortunate to share this experience.”