Charlie Cooper Returns to US Open for 20th Anniversary of Wheelchair Tennis

One year after reaching both the Boys’ singles and doubles finals at the US Open Junior Wheelchair Championships, La Quinta’s Charlie Cooper is headed back to New York—this time competing on the biggest stage of his sport.

Cooper, 17, is one of just three American men in this year’s US Open Men’s Wheelchair draw, a major milestone in his rise through the professional ranks. His return also coincides with the 20th anniversary of wheelchair tennis at the US Open, a milestone Cooper sees as more than symbolic. It’s a chance to continue reshaping how the sport and its athletes are seen, showing that wheelchair tennis demands the same professionalism, competitiveness, and teamwork as any other discipline.

This visibility matters deeply for young athletes dreaming big, just as Cooper once did. Having won the Junior division last year, he understands the impact his journey can have on others with disabilities. Many kids watched that final and witnessed the dedication and intensity required to compete at the highest levels—a dream Cooper shared early on, hoping one day to play at the elite level alongside stars like Alfie Hewett and Gustavo Fernandez.

For Cooper, giving back to junior players is personal. “I’ll always make sure to go up and meet them and even watch some of their matches, because I was inspired by the professional players before me, and that’s where my desire to win came from,” he said. “I hope to be an inspiration for other athletes who watch my matches to never give up on any ball or challenge that comes their way. My coach always told me even in practice to try to get any ball back even if it was out as this would build resilience.”

A Historic Junior Victory and Early Success

Cooper’s breakout 2024 season included a stunning US Open win over No. 2 seed Ivar van Rijt in straight sets after edging him in a tense first-set tiebreak. This marked the first junior singles or doubles title by an American since the event launched in 2022, a triumph made more meaningful by the support of coaches, family, and friends courtside.

“Winning the US Open was definitely the greatest moment of my tennis career so far,” Cooper said. “It honestly still feels like a dream. The feeling of winning the last point was something I’ll never forget. I think it really inspired me to want to strive for that same moment on the professional tour.”

In doubles, Cooper and fellow American Tomas Majetic reached the final before falling to van Rijt and Benjamin Wenzel. Their strong showing confirmed that Cooper’s junior Slam success could translate to the men’s game.

Those back-to-back junior titles gave him a head start and belief. “Winning the junior US Open and Australian Open really put me on a good path to compete against men’s professionals worldwide. I trusted that all the work I put in could pay off in the men’s divisions,” he said.

Rising Through the Ranks

Cooper closed 2024 ranked No. 5 in juniors and inside the top 70 in men’s ITF singles. By May 2025, he reached a career-high junior ranking of No. 2 and currently ranks No. 4 in juniors and No. 43 in men’s ITF singles.

“Coming off two [junior] Grand Slam titles gave me so much confidence,” Cooper said. “But the men’s tour was a whole new ballgame.”

Early losses this season to top-10 and top-20 opponents were tough but invaluable. “I felt like I wasn’t making the progress I wanted. This year I’ve learned timing is everything, and the work is what matters most. A win or loss doesn’t define me; it’s about the bigger picture.”

He regained momentum with back-to-back titles in Canada and remains focused on improving his mental game, aiming for a breakthrough at this year’s US Open.

Where It All Began

Born with spina bifida, Cooper was once told he might never walk. But by age three, he was moving around with leg braces. A wheelchair tennis clinic at Indian Wells changed everything.

There, he met his longtime coach D’Wayne Begay, Director of Tennis at Silversands Racquet Club, who nurtured his talent and confidence.

“Growing up in Southern California greatly influenced my journey,” Cooper said. “Living only four minutes from the BNP Paribas Open, I was always inspired watching tennis at the highest level, players like Roger Federer, before I had even picked up a racquet. Indian Wells Tennis Garden and the amazing coaches here really shaped me into the competitor I am today.”

That dream came full circle last year when he met Federer in the US Open players’ garden. “From watching Federer on the practice courts of Indian Wells, I had the honor to finally meet him at the US Open,” Cooper recalled. “I remember him asking where I was at in the tournament since I was playing the finals the next day. He said, ‘Good luck, champ,’ which really motivated me to win that final.”

Federer’s grace and mental toughness left a mark on Cooper’s mindset and approach. “He has a humble character I aspire to emulate as a professional athlete. Remembering your roots and environment that developed you is something I’ve learned from him. Also, in wheelchair tennis, we all have one-handed backhands like Federer, so his shot was a great influence when I started.”

Tennis became his calling, but music was his first love. Cooper plays piano and guitar, and it was a connection at a guitar shop when he was nine—with another child with the same disability—that introduced him to wheelchair tennis. Off the court, music and relationships on tour keep him grounded.

“If I’m not playing tennis, I’m either playing or listening to music,” Cooper said. “On tour, meeting new people and creating great relationships keeps me balanced and focused on things beyond the court.”

A Bigger Stage for Wheelchair Tennis

The US Open has steadily expanded its wheelchair divisions in recent years, doubling singles and doubles draws and growing the quad division to 16 players by 2023. The junior event consists of eight boys and eight girls in singles, with four doubles teams.

As part of the ITF’s UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour, the event’s growth accelerated after the USTA became the first Olympic National Governing Body recognized by the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee for a Paralympic sport in 2002. Wheelchair tennis follows the same rules as able-bodied tennis, except players get two bounces.

Introducing junior wheelchair events at Grand Slams—like the 2025 Australian Open, where Cooper became the inaugural Boys’ singles winner—has been a game changer. Early on, most top competitors were much older, making pro success feel distant. Now, with teenagers like Tokito Oda winning men’s Grand Slams, clear pathways exist. Cooper aims to be a role model for future juniors, showing what’s possible.

Ambitious Goals That Go Beyond Titles

Cooper already holds junior titles from the 2024 US Open, a sweep of the 2025 Australian Open, and a 2025 Roland Garros doubles crown, plus a singles runner-up finish in Paris. Yet his biggest goals are reaching world No. 1 and winning Paralympic Gold.

“The day I watched wheelchair tennis in my first top-level tournament, I knew,” Cooper said. “With the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, that dream feels even greater.”

Training alongside Shingo Kunieda, a four-time Paralympic gold medalist and one of the sport’s most respected players, inspires him daily.

“He pushes me to the fullest with the goal to achieve that same glory. But greater than that, I want to inspire others and be a light powered by God in wheelchair tennis.”

Inspiring the Next Generation and Changing Perceptions

For Cooper, success isn’t just wins; it’s about impact. On court and in community, he’s committed to being a role model for the next generation of adaptive athletes.

“Disability is just an ability to find something you love,” he said. “I didn’t grow up thinking I’d be a wheelchair tennis player—I wanted to be in the NBA or NFL. But God had other plans.”

“People often see disability as a limitation, but for me, it’s taught me resilience and purpose. If I can help even one person believe they can chase something they love, no matter what they’re facing, that means everything to me.”