USTA receives ITF Brad Parks Award

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has been named the recipient of the ITF Brad Parks Award by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), in recognition of their outstanding leadership and long-term commitment to developing the sport both nationally and globally.

The Brad Parks Award is the sport’s highest honour, awarded annually to those who have made a significant international contribution to wheelchair tennis. It celebrates those whose lasting contributions reflect the values of inclusion, opportunity, and innovation that define the sport.

Among its many achievements, the USTA elevated the US Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships to Grand Slam status in 2005 and became the first Grand Slam nation to introduce junior wheelchair competition at a Grand Slam. It has also been instrumental in fostering international partnerships, collaborating with the ITF, the Cruyff Foundation, and UNIQLO to expand junior development opportunities and establish a sustainable collegiate system governed by the appropriate national body. 

These efforts have not only raised the profile of wheelchair tennis in the U.S. but have helped shape a more equitable and inclusive tennis landscape worldwide.

David Haggerty, ITF President, said: “The ITF Brad Parks Award honours those whose passion and dedication have left an enduring mark on wheelchair tennis. The USTA exemplifies leadership with purpose, championing inclusion, driving progress and inspiring change. Over the past 25 years, it has not only raised the profile of the sport within the United States but also helped set a global benchmark for integration and opportunity. From grassroots to Grand Slam, its work has redefined what is possible in wheelchair tennis and continues to open doors for generations to come.”

"We are proud at the USTA to see our work in wheelchair tennis making an impact beyond the United States. Facilitating the inclusion of collegiate wheelchair tennis within the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, expanding Grand Slam wheelchair draws to historic levels, and being the first Grand Slam nation to include junior wheelchair tennis, the USTA is showing what inclusion can look like on the world stage," said Brian Vahaly, USTA Chairman of the Board and President.