In their own words: Rebecca Falkner Axelrod on adaptive tennis' impact

The second I stepped on that court, something lit up inside of me. It felt so natural. It felt like a safe space and a place where I feel like I could fully express myself. Twenty years later, I still remember how giddy I felt. Every time I stepped on the court, my speech was a bit clearer than the time before, and I began to soar. Not only did I love tennis, but I truly found my voice and confidence on that court. Without tennis, I have no clue where I would be. 

Flash forward 20 years later. I graduated speech therapy years ago, played collegiate tennis and now serve as a member of the USTA National Adaptive Committee. These are things that would never have happened if I had not found my voice on that court so many years ago. I have a goal of helping other families who find themselves where I was. I am active in the adaptive community and continue to be vocal and active in order to help others find their voices. 

Adaptive tennis to me is more than just learning how to play. It is about getting to know each individual athlete and creating unique ways of learning and communicating to set them up for success on and off the court. It is also about letting the parent(s)/guardian(s) know that although their child may face challenges, they can overcome those challenges on the court. 

I am proud of my journey and proud to be a part of other athletes’ journeys.