‘There’s no limitations at all’: 2025 Adaptive National Championships expands with first-ever singles invitational

The annual national-level tournament welcomes adaptive tennis players from across the United States to compete. Twenty-five unified teams took part in the tournament’s traditional Unified Doubles competition, in which one player with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) competes alongside one player without IDD. But this year’s competition widened the playing field, with an inaugural singles invitational that featured eight athletes with IDD.

Justin Daley of Braintree, Mass., was one of the athletes with IDD who played in the first-ever singles event. His coach, Lucy Dickman, was thrilled to see the singles invitation added to the tournament, and said it was a sign that the sport is catching on at a larger level. It also helped that Daley had a great singles showing. 

“That's the best he's ever played tennis, ever, period. End of discussion. We are very proud of him,” Dickman said, with a smile. “I think it's great that they had the singles.”

Lopez and Perry went on to win their second consecutive unified doubles title at the 2025 Adaptive National Championships. In their three years working together, Perry said he’s not only been inspired by his unified doubles partner, but also by the sport itself. 

“It's been very inspiring, and I hope Juan Pablo and events like this can bring awareness to what's possible for everyone,” Perry said. “That's one of the things I love about tennis: It's available to anyone … this shows that there's no limitations at all.”

Jessica Ruiz, Lopez’s mother, introduced him to the sport upon recommendation from his developmental pediatrician. Ruiz said that her son took to the sport quickly, and also credits IDD tennis for helping Lopez grow as a person and a player. 

“It's amazing how he's grown. He's become so confident, verbal and outgoing because of tennis,” Ruiz said. She hopes to see the theme of growth extend into the sport itself.