USTA Honored with ITF Brad Parks Award for
Global Leadership in Wheelchair Tennis

At the 2025 US Open, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) received the prestigious International Tennis Federation (ITF) Brad Parks Award, honoring its visionary leadership and long-term commitment to expanding wheelchair tennis nationally and internationally. The presentation coincided with a milestone year celebrating two decades of wheelchair tennis at the Grand Slam and looked ahead to the sport’s 50th anniversary in 2026, emphasizing the USTA’s pivotal role in shaping the game’s past and future. 

The award also pays tribute to Brad Parks, a native of Orange, California, whose pioneering efforts laid the foundation for wheelchair tennis worldwide.

Brad Parks: From Personal Journey to Global Game-Changer

The story of wheelchair tennis didn’t begin in a grand stadium, but rather in Southern California rehabilitation centers. In 1976, Brad Alan Parks, an 18-year-old freestyle skiing prodigy from Orange, suffered a life-changing accident that left him paralyzed from the hips down. Like many who endure disabling injuries, he played wheelchair basketball as part of his rehab. One day, he and his father experimented with tennis, sparking an idea that would evolve into a sport reshaping adaptive athletics worldwide.

That spark quickly became a collaborative effort with fellow wheelchair athlete and recreational therapist Jeff Minnebraker at Rancho Los Amigos in Downey. Together, they engineered lightweight, specially designed wheelchairs that allowed players to move efficiently across the court, making tennis more accessible to people with mobility impairments. Their early efforts included a 1977 event in Los Angeles, marking the sport’s early beginnings and setting the stage for national growth. From the very beginning, wheelchair tennis combined physical challenge with social connection and mental engagement, showcasing tennis as one of the healthiest sports while opening the game to a broader community of athletes.

Organized competition took shape with the formation of the National Foundation of Wheelchair Tennis (NFWT) in 1980, co-founded by Parks, David Saltz, Jim Worth, and Dave Kiley, followed by the Wheelchair Tennis Players Association (WTPA) in 1981. That same year, Parks launched the first US Open National Wheelchair Tennis Championships in Irvine, laying the foundation for competitive wheelchair tennis in the U.S. By 1985, the sport had grown to over 1,500 athletes competing in 40 sanctioned events, with divisions for women and quad players—athletes with functional limitations in all four limbs who often compete using customized wheelchairs or assistive devices—expanding rapidly. International growth followed with the debut of the World Team Cup and the creation of Europe’s governing federation.

Wheelchair tennis reached a global milestone in 1992 when Parks and Randy Snow captured the first men’s doubles gold medal at the Barcelona Paralympics. Recognizing the sport’s international potential, Parks became the inaugural president of the International Wheelchair Tennis Federation in 1988, guiding its integration under the ITF—the first disabled sport to achieve such a union at the international level. Parks dominated on the court and earned recognition for his contributions, including induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Philippe Chatrier Award from the ITF in 2016. Today, wheelchair tennis has grown into a fully professional global sport, with the UNIQLO ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour spanning over 160 tournaments across roughly 40 countries, including all four Grand Slams.

Southern California: Origin and Ongoing Impact

Southern California remains the vibrant heart of wheelchair tennis. The USTA Southern California section drives this momentum through community programs, elite coaching, and development initiatives that nurture players at all levels. In 2025, the USTA awarded over $100,000 in Wheelchair Tennis Grassroots Grants to 55 programs nationwide, including six local initiatives such as Angel City Alliance in Los Angeles, SoCal Adaptive Sports in Riverside, and Youth Tennis San Diego. These funds support clinics, tournaments, and equipment access, expanding opportunities for both newcomers and competitive athletes.

For many in Southern California, the ITF award carries special meaning because it recognizes not just global leadership, but also the sport’s local roots in Orange County. That legacy continues to be felt by coaches and players across the region.

Henry Reyes, a longtime competitor and coach, credits the USTA for creating opportunities both on and off the court. “The USTA staff is amazing! They’ve given me many opportunities both on the court as a competitor, as well as a coach for kids in after school programs and junior wheelchair players,” he said. “A proud moment was seeing one of my junior players move up to the B division for sectionals this year, and beat one of the top adults.”

That individual success reflects a broader trend across the section. SoCal’s programs have contributed significantly to national growth, with local athletes like La Quinta’s Charlie Cooper and Mission Viejo’s John Henry competing at Junior Nationals in recent years, and Cooper advancing to Team USA within the past five years. Collegiate programs at UCLA and San Diego State, fueled by SoCal-grown players, continue to shine—SDSU has finished runner-up at Collegiate Nationals twice in that span. Beyond player success, Southern California has hosted the National All-Comers Camp for five consecutive years, seen rising junior participation, and organized multiple USTA Wheelchair Coaching Development workshops to expand the pipeline of providers. The section’s Annual Wheelchair Sectionals have consistently elevated players to higher divisions, while partnerships with adaptive sports organizations have introduced the sport at more than 30 fairs and playdays across the region. With multiple SoCal athletes ranked in the national top 10 across both junior and adult divisions, the section has become a model of growth and innovation for others to follow.

Leadership from the region remains equally strong. Jason Harnett of Orange County, Team USA’s Wheelchair Tennis National Manager, channels his SoCal roots into guiding national strategy and grassroots growth. David Wagner of Fullerton continues to elevate the sport as a decorated quad athlete with multiple Grand Slam and Paralympic medals. Retired San Diego athlete Dana Mathewson remains a prominent figure in the community, contributing through advocacy and mentoring. Rising junior star Charlie Cooper, a top-ranked competitor in national and Grand Slam events, embodies the next generation of Southern California excellence.

A Legacy Renewed and a Future Forged

The ITF Brad Parks Award, established in 1993, is the sport’s highest distinction, honoring contributions that exemplify inclusion, opportunity, and innovation. By receiving this award, the USTA became the third national federation, and the first Grand Slam nation, to be recognized.

Since assuming governance of wheelchair tennis in the United States in 1998, the USTA has integrated the sport across all levels, from grassroots programs to collegiate competition and high-performance pathways. In 2005, the US Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships achieved full Grand Slam status, providing athletes with a premier platform on one of tennis’ biggest stages.

Youth development remains a priority. In 2022, the USTA became the first Grand Slam nation to host junior wheelchair tennis at the US Open, while collegiate wheelchair tennis was integrated into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, creating sustainable pathways for student-athletes. Internationally, the USTA has collaborated with the ITF, the Cruyff Foundation, and UNIQLO to expand junior development and foster the sport’s global growth.

That vision comes to life in local communities, where programs continue to thrive. “USTA SoCal has such a strong, tight-knit community of wheelchair tennis players, so it’s always a pleasure to see players gathered together at clinics, All-Comers Camps, and tournaments,” said USTA Southern California Community Tennis Coordinator Bryan Hudson.

That same commitment was echoed on the international stage during the award ceremony. ITF President David Haggerty praised the USTA’s influence, noting, “The ITF Brad Parks Award honours those whose passion and dedication have left an enduring mark on wheelchair tennis. The USTA exemplifies leadership with purpose, championing inclusion, driving progress, and inspiring change. From grassroots to Grand Slam, its work has redefined what is possible in wheelchair tennis and continues to open doors for generations to come.”

USTA Chairman of the Board and President Brian Vahaly added that the recognition reflects the organization’s ongoing drive to set new standards: “We are proud at the USTA to see our work in wheelchair tennis making an impact beyond the United States. Facilitating the inclusion of collegiate wheelchair tennis within the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, expanding Grand Slam wheelchair draws to historic levels, and being the first Grand Slam nation to include junior wheelchair tennis, the USTA is showing what inclusion can look like on the world stage.”

Continuing the Vision 

The 2025 US Open provided a fitting stage for this recognition, honoring the impact of wheelchair tennis both nationally and globally. For Southern California, the award holds special significance, reflecting Parks’ pioneering work and the region’s enduring influence. From humble local clinics to Grand Slam arenas, his vision continues to inspire. The USTA and USTA Southern California remain dedicated to expanding access, elevating competition, and nurturing the next generation of athletes, ensuring that from Orange, California, to the international stage, Brad Parks’ legacy of inclusion, innovation, and leadership in wheelchair tennis continues to thrive.