Adaptive tennis takes center stage at ATP, WTA events and US Open in 2022

In 2022, three ATP and WTA tour events, and the year's final Grand Slam, showcased adaptive tennis with on-court demos and clinics when participants were welcomed to the Atlanta Open, Western & Southern Open, US Open and San Diego Open.

As the year winds down, revisit the fun that was had by all around the U.S. this summer and fall. 

Atlanta Open

At the US Open Series event in Atlanta, Dream Court executive director Jessica Weyreuter tossed the coin prior to the singles semifinal between eventual champion Alex de Minaur and Ilia Ivashka on July 30. 

Dream Court is an adaptive program in Montgomery, Ala. that was recognized with the 2021 USTA Adaptive Award due to its efforts in pivoting to engaging, virtual programming during the COVID-19 pandemic that kept its community safe and healthy.

Dream Court began nearly a decade ago, in 2013, and has served more than 300 athletes and utilized more than 700 volunteers since its founding.

Western and Southern Open

The Western & Southern Open has always been an ardent supporter of adaptive programming and the USTA's efforts to grow the game through education and awareness for the Midwest section, and this year was no different: The ATP and WTA 1000 event had four days of adaptive showcases scheduled in 2022, the most in tournament history.

Standing adaptive tennis was on the docket for Thursday and Friday; on Thursday, Danny Scrivano and Gene Hill played singles and doubles in an umpired exhibition match, while a group from Grand Rapids, Mich. came down to participate in a two-hour clinic on Friday, followed by a meet and greet with top-ranked doubles team Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury, the tournament's eventual champions. ACEing Autism hosted a clinic on Saturday.

US Open

After a two-year hiatus, ACEing Autism returned to the US Open on Aug. 28 to host its eighth showcase clinic.

More than 50 program directors and staff from across the country flew in to run the two-hour clinic for more than 25 participants. ATP Top 50 player Brandon Nakashima got on court and hit with participants, and International Tennis Hall of Famer Pam Shriver was also on hand.

The event helped to drum up excitement for the return of the program to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, which successfully relaunched its chapter in Flushing this fall.

San Diego Open

For the second year running, the San Diego Open hosted and recognized participants from the San Diego Wounded Warrior Tennis program at the ATP and WTA events held this September and October, respectively.

Groups of 20 warriors met and played “beat-the-pro” points against some of the tournament's stars, talked to them about life on the tour, and got autographs and photos with the pros.

Thanks to the generosity of the tournament's Military Appreciation Day sponsor, Merchant’s Home Lending, the warriors also received custom T-shirts, complimentary lunches, tickets to afternoon matches, and participated in pre-match coin tosses.