Come One, Come All: Wheelchair Camps Grow in 2019

Capping off a season of growth, the USTA All Comers program is primed for a successful finish this fall, as two more wheelchair tennis camps will be held in a pair of states.

For the fifth straight year, a wheelchair tennis camp will come to the campus of Florida Southern College this October, under the direction of decorated USTA High Performance coach Paul Walker.

Walker was named the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Coach of the Year in 2013 and the USTA Paralympic Tennis Coach of the Year in 2014, and he currently serves as an assistant coach for the Mocs' NCAA Division II women's tennis team. 

“The college, the athletic department and especially head women’s tennis coach Trish Riddell have been incredibly supportive of this event over the years,” Walker said of the camp, scheduled this year for Oct. 18-20. 

“The camp has grown each year and we’ll welcome almost 20 wheelchair tennis players from six different states around the country. These camps are designed to promote the growth of the sport at the grassroots level and get people loving and playing the great game of tennis.”

Closing out the year, former US Paralympian and Parapan American gold medalist Jon Rydberg will host November’s camp on the campus of Purdue University in Lafayette, Ind., from Nov. 7-10.

The USTA All Comers Camp program serves individuals from ages 12 and older of all skill levels who want to be introduced to wheelchair tennis.

This includes athletes who have permanent disabling conditions that require the use of a wheelchair for sports, and able-bodied coaches who want to learn and observe wheelchair tennis.

“We are very proud of what we have been able to accomplish [in 2019] by being able to add three more camps to our yearly schedule,” said Jason Allen, manager of wheelchair tennis for the USTA.

“With a total of six camps nationwide, players have more opportunities to learn more about wheelchair tennis in a social and competitive environment. These final two camps will be the culmination of an exciting year for USTA wheelchair tennis.”

The two upcoming camps round out a season that saw the program go coast-to-coast, with camps having also been held in Kansas, Oregon, Texas and Utah.

To find a wheelchair tennis program in your area, click here, and for more information on the All Comer Camps, click here.