Midwest para standing tennis players enjoy great success at national, international tournaments in 2025

The following spring came the JTCC Para Standing Tournament in College Park, Md. Shnowske (PST Class 1 with single arm impairment) and Herber (PST Class 2 with single below-knee amputation) played matches with no changes to the traditional rules of tennis. Scrivano (PST Class 3 with moderate/severe hemiplegia cerebral palsy), is allowed two bounces. Shnowske and Scrivano made it to the singles finals where Shnowske edged out Scrivano in a thrilling 3rd set tiebreaker 6-2, 3-6, T(10-6). The pair won doubles together. Herber was the singles finalist and again won the women’s doubles title with Siebert.

Scrivano and Shnowske then travelled to international tournaments, beginning with Scrivano as the only American to play in the first-ever Japan Open Championships in Narita, Japan at the end of May 2025. The tournament was organized by PST classes. 

In 2023 and 2024, Scrivano won singles in back-to-back European Championships as well as the singles championship at the inaugural World Championships in 2024. All pressure was on him ahead of the Japan Open. 

The weather was a challenge in Narita and two days of play were completely cancelled, turning the four-day tournament into two days. On the last day, Scrivano played six matches and emerged as the PST-3 singles and doubles champion, sweeping the class.  

Shnowske flew to Barcelona, Spain for the second annual (and his first) World Championships; another tournament organized by class. He played strongly and gained important insights from players all over the world. More than 60 players were in attendance from more than 15 countries. 

Scrivano and Shnowske met up in Turin, Italy for the European Championships in June. Shnowske won his first singles match. Then went on to play Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP)-ranked player, Alex Hunt from New Zealand in round two. It was a tough draw, but Shnowske showed grit and skill, playing many entertaining points before ultimately falling to the eventual PST1 Champion. Shnowske made it to the semifinals in PST1-2 doubles with his partner, Thalita Rodriguez (former D1 tennis star from Toledo University) from Brazil. They lost to the tournament's finalists from the UK.

Scrivano had a great run in the PST-3 singles, advancing to the finals after a gritty semifinal match against Chile's Luis Vinales, where Scrivano won 7-5, 7-5. In the championship match, Scrivano played the 2025 World champion, Gianfranco Scamaroni from Peru; Scamaroni is new to the tour this year and is a strong player, who like Scrivano, also has hemiplegia cerebral palsy. Scrivano played hard but could not break Scamaroni's booming serve and lost 6-3, 6-3. 

As the PST-3 singles runner-up, Scrivano then partnered with Luke Misson (PST-4 short stature), the consolation bracket winner from Australia. They advanced to the finals, meeting the 2024 PST-3 reigning doubles champions, Luis Vinales (Chile) and Javier Bespresvany (Argentina). Scrivano and Missen stayed cool and calm and worked their way into a 3rd set tie break after losing the first set 0-4 (shortened sets) and won the 2nd set 4-2.  The nail-biting tie break went back and forth, but Lukano—a nickname bestowed upon the pair by fellow players—dug out of it to win 11-9 and became the 2025 European PST3-4 doubles champions.

Herber, Scrivano and Shnowske are now gearing up for the Midwest Summer Circuit with tournaments in Grand Rapids, Mich., Chicago, Ill., and Cincinnati, Ohio (all three will play exhibition matches at the Cincinnati Open). It will be Scrivano's fourth appearance, Shnowske's second and Herber's first at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. Swing by to cheer them on. They'll be there Aug. 14 for three matches at 10 am, 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm on courts 8 and 9.

The overall goal is to get more people playing tennis. From beginners to intermediate and advanced players. Tennis is for all. For elite players, the goal is to bring PST to the Grand Slams and the Paralympics. USTA is leading the way with our standout players from the Midwest.

To learn more about para standing tennis, please visit USTA Midwest Adaptive Tennis and parastandingtennis.com.