Top-ranked US wheelchair player Casey Ratzlaff competes at Paris Paralympics

“There are times we see athletes and you’re like, ‘Oh, wow, they have it. And they’re going to be playing at the US Open or Paralympics or wherever,’” Heim said. “Casey was the opposite. We all saw potential in Casey, no doubt, but he was just a young kid having fun. He has really sacrificed and dedicated. He has incredible family support. He’s had a lot of good mentors along the way. To see him dedicate and sacrifice and make it to this level is phenomenal.”

Ratzlaff, who was born with spina bifida in Wichita, Kan., entered the 2024 Paralympics fresh off a history-making showing in London. Ratzlaff became the first American male to compete in the men’s open wheelchair division at Wimbledon. During his downtime, Ratzlaff had the chance to meet and take pictures with singer-songwriter Pink and tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz.

“They are opportunities four times a year to really feel like you made it,” Ratzlaff said of the Grand Slams. “It’s incredible. It’s what we work so hard for, and they mean the world to us. You can ask any tennis player in the world what events they would want to play—it would be those four events. The environment is totally different than anything else in the sport.”

Ratzlaff's Sports Background

Ratzlaff has always been passionate about athletics. His immediate family and cousins are avid sports fans and particularly fond of the Kansas City Chiefs. Ratzlaff rarely misses a Chiefs game and dreamed of playing for the franchise growing up.

That evolved into him begging his parents to find a sport for him. He tried and loved sit skiing and attempted a bevy of other sports. In the summer of 2011, Ratzlaff’s parents brought home a flyer from their local church advertising a number of different sports activities: basketball, bocce, hand cycling and wheelchair tennis. Wichita native and legendary wheelchair tennis player Nick Taylor was the program’s coach.

“He was there running the event,” Ratzlaff said. “He put me in a chair, slapped a racquet in my hand and off I went.”

Ratzlaff enjoys navigating the varying playing styles he matches up against. He loves problem-solving his way to victories.

“You have so much time to adapt and overcome the adversity you’re faced with,” Ratzlaff said. “That’s one of the coolest things about the sport I attached to very quickly. I do love team sports. But the individualistic part about tennis is really so alluring to me. It’s incredible to not only come through some of the matches I’ve come through, but also to witness tennis at the highest level and see some of the ways players are able to get through matches.”

Ratzlaff credited the USTA Missouri Valley for aiding in his development as a player and person. He said “one of the coolest moments of my career as a junior” came in 2015 when he received the USTA Missouri Valley Junior Player of the Year Award. Ratzlaff noted the accolade motivated and propelled him to take his career to another level.

“I’ve always felt a tremendous support system in the Midwest,” Ratzlaff said. “It’s home. I have a lot of great connections there. I really appreciate all the support USTA MoValley has given me over the years, especially early on in my junior career.”

Ratzlaff now lives in Vermont and works in tandem with his coach, Justin DeSanto, as a volunteer assistant for the Dartmouth College men’s tennis program. The role enables Ratzlaff to get his training in while guiding the Ivy League school’s players. With his second appearance in the Paralympic Games completed, Ratzlaff is proud of what he’s accomplished and excited for what’s ahead.

“I love tennis. I love competing. I love coaching as well,” Ratzlaff said. “I get to do all these things and travel and play in all these amazing events. I have worked myself hard enough to be in a position to make a living off it. Ten to 15 years ago, I didn’t think any of this was possible.

“Once I knew it was possible, it was a lifelong dream to get myself where I am today. Through hard work and by the grace of God being connected to the right people from early on, I was able to achieve what I dreamed of doing. I’ve got an amazing job, and I love it.”