Alabama reclaims their title at the 2025 ITA National Wheelchair Tennis Championships
LAKE NONA, Fla. — The University of Alabama won the 2025 ITA National Wheelchair Tennis Championships at the USTA National Campus on Sunday, lifting the trophy for the eighth time in the past nine tournaments. In a rematch of the 2023 final, the Crimson Tide took on in-state rival Auburn University for the title, defeating the Tigers 2-0.
Alabama jumped out to an early lead on Sunday morning after the top-ranked doubles team of Francesco Felici and Martha Harris defeated Jake Eastwood and Evan Heller in the doubles match, 8-1.
After a short break, the singles matches began, with Felici facing Gabe Puthoff and Harris going up against Heller. While Puthoff put up a great fight, the 2023 US Open junior wheelchair finalist and ITA Rookie of the Year proved too formidable a foe, winning the match 6-0, 6-0 to clinch the title for the Tide.
The moment the match concluded, senior Max Barbier sped onto the court to hug his teammate and celebrate the win, colliding with Felici in his excitement. Barbier will graduate as a three-time national champion—a rare achievement for college athletes.
Barbier brought the energy throughout the tournament, cheering and offering encouragement, and he seemed just as excited for his younger teammates to be a part of the Alabama dynasty as he was to end his career on a win.
Alabama players Max Barbier, Martha Harris and Francesco Felici pose with their trophy. Photo courtesy of the ITA.
“We didn't get what we wanted last year, and I'm so happy that they're getting to experience something—that this is now my third time getting to experience—for their first time,” Barbier said. “I'm just so happy that I got to finish my last full year on getting a title.”
The championship was also Tyler McKay’s first as head coach. This was his second season as head coach after taking over from Evan Enquist, who led the Tide to seven consecutive titles.
Alabama players Max Barbier, Martha Harris and Francesco Felici, and their coaches pose with their trophy. Photo courtesy of the ITA.
However, the final was so much more than great tennis—it was the culmination of four days of competition and camaraderie, and a celebration of how far collegiate wheelchair tennis has come. Around 40 people came to watch the final, including the Michigan, Houston and Cincinnati teams.
Nine teams and around 30 athletes played in the tournament, representing Alabama, Auburn, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, University of Virginia, University of Cincinnati, Clemson, University of Houston and University of Arizona.
Attendees remarked on how competitive the matches were, and that all the teams had upped their level from previous years. Additionally, only one team—Cincinnati, a brand-new program this season—had affiliate players.
The tournament even inspired new wheelchair tennis fans. Among the crowd watching the final was Alabama native RD Phillips, who now lives in the Orlando area. Phillips is a die-hard Crimson Tide fan, and discovered the event on an Alabama Facebook page. He showed up for the semifinals the day before, despite knowing very little about the sport—he didn’t know how tennis is scored. But after watching the matches and speaking with parents, fans, and the players, Phillips returned on Sunday morning for the final, decked out in crimson to cheer on his team.
“This is fantastic. The guys and girls are having fun, the competition is really great. I just hope it continues to grow,” Phillips said.
Despite Alabama’s dominance in the space, winning nine out of 25 national team titles, the other teams competing refuse to settle for second-best. As the Tide took pictures hoisting their trophy, soaking in the joy of a national title, Houston and Michigan were running practices before heading home.
The sun might be setting on the 2024-25 season, but the future of collegiate wheelchair tennis is bright.
Results
Pool A: Alabama (1), Virginia, Clemson
Alabama (1) def. Clemson, 3-0
Virginia def. Clemson, 3-0
Alabama def. Virginia, 3-0
Group winner: Alabama
Pool B: Michigan (2), Auburn, Cincinnati
Michigan (2) def. Cincinnati, 3-0
Auburn def. Cincinnati, 2-1
Michigan (2) def. Auburn, 2-1
Group winner: Michigan
Pool C: Houston (3), Arizona, Michigan State
Houston (3) def. Michigan State, 3-0
Arizona def. Michigan State, 3-0
Arizona def. Houston (3), 2-1
Group winner: Arizona
Playoff Match:
Auburn def. Houston, 3-0
Consolation (final not played):
Virginia def. Cincinnati, 2-0*
Clemson def. Michigan State, 2-1
Semifinals:
Alabama def. Arizona, 2-0*
Auburn def. Michigan, 2-0*
Final:
Alabama def. Auburn, 2-0*
*Matches were played to clinch
Click here to see complete scores.
Related Articles
-
![Visit the JR WC players sweep at OB page]( "Two boys in wheelchairs hold crystal bowls filled with oranges.")
JR WC players sweep at OBDecember 16, 2025Three American junior wheelchair athletes competed at the 2025 ITF Wheelchair Tennis Junior Masters held at the Orange Bowl, claiming three titles across boys' singles, boys' doubles and girls' doubles. Read More -
![Visit the 2025 NCAA champs page]( "Female college tennis player posing with trophy.")
2025 NCAA champsNovember 25, 2025Michael Zheng and Reese Brantmeier were crowned NCAA men’s and women’s singles titles, while Mans Dahlberg and Dylan Dietrich and Gabriella Broadfoot and Victoria Osuigwe took home the doubles trophies. Read More -
![Visit the NCAA Individuals page]( "ORLANDO, FL - MAY 17: Caroline Lampl and Kimberly Yee of Stanford University in action during the Women’s quarterfinal doubles matches between Stanford University and Pepperdine during the 2019 NCAA National Championships at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Florida on May 17, 2019. (Photo by Joe Murphy/USTA)")
NCAA IndividualsNovember 17, 2025The 2025 NCAA Individual Championships begin Tuesday at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla. Read More
Sign up for our Newsletter
Download the USTA App
