USTA joins Grand Slams, ITF to support wheelchair tennis

The United States Tennis Association (USTA), on behalf of the US Open and in conjunction with the other three Grand Slam governing bodies and the International Tennis Federation, has pledged financial support to wheelchair tennis in light of the global COVD-19 pandemic.

The USTA has joined with the ITF, the worldwide governing body for tennis; Tennis Australia, on behalf of the Australian Open; the French Tennis Federation (FFT), on behalf of Roland Garros; and the All-England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), on behalf of Wimbledon; to pledge over $300,000 in the form of grants.

The aim of these grants is to help wheelchair athletes and national associations that have been impacted by the suspension of the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour and postponement of major wheelchair tournaments around the world. 

Wheelchair tennis players ranked inside the Top 20 in the men’s and women’s open division, and the Top 15 in the quad division, of the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour rankings who earned less than $100,000 in prize money in 2019 will be eligible to apply for the grant. 

To date, 88 ITF-sanctioned wheelchair events have been postponed or canceled since the initial suspension of the professional tennis tours on March 12, and the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour is currently suspended until July 31 in alignment with the other circuits. 

This wheelchair tennis fund is the second such relief program offered by tennis' governing bodies to provide financial assistance to their players in light of the pandemic.

A similar joint initiative of tennis’ seven major stakeholders, announced in May, will provide financial support to approximately 800 ATP and WTA singles and doubles players.