Southern

Para-Standing Tennis takes center stage at US Open

Allan Jensen / USTA Southern | September 15, 2025

USTA Southern Manager, Hispanic Outreach & Training Allan Jensen reports from the US Open.

Career highlight

As a tennis coach and a member of the USTA Southern Section staff, this experience was one of the absolute highlights of my career. It reminded me why I fell in love with this sport in the first place — not just for the competition, but for the stories, the people and the power of tennis to inspire change.

This year, I had the privilege of serving as a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) staff representative at one of the most inspiring events I’ve ever witnessed — the Para-Standing Tennis Exhibition at the US Open. Held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, this event showcased not only extraordinary athleticism but also the remarkable spirit of individuals who redefine what’s possible.

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Para-Standing Tennis player Nicholas Basaez. Photo: USTA

What is Para-Standing Tennis?

Para-Standing Tennis is a form of tennis played by athletes with physical disabilities who do not use wheelchairs. It’s a growing discipline that is rapidly gaining global recognition. Witnessing it on the same courts where the world’s top-ranked players compete was truly awe-inspiring.

Everything about this event mirrored the professional tour: ball kids, chair umpires, live scoreboards — the full US Open experience. But what made it stand out were the players themselves and their stories.

Basaez defies limits

One story that deeply moved me was that of Nicolas Basaez from Chile, a Para-Tennis player born without arms. When I asked him how he got into tennis, his answer was simple yet profound, "Because people told me I couldn’t."

His determination to not only prove others wrong but to excel at a sport as physically demanding as tennis is nothing short of incredible. Nicolas embodies the essence of resilience — and he's just one of many remarkable athletes who participated.

For the athletes, practicing on the same courts as their idols was a surreal experience. On the first day of training, they found themselves side by side with top 10 Italian stars Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti, who stopped to take pictures with the athletes. These moments created memories that will last a lifetime for the players, many of whom had only seen these professionals on television before.

Three days of competition

The Para-Standing players competed in a three-day, round robin format, playing a singles and a doubles match per day. Matches were played as best-of-three sets, with traditional tiebreaks at 6–6 and a 10-point match tiebreak in lieu of a third set. The level of competition was high, but the camaraderie and mutual respect among players stood out even more.

On the final day, the athletes gave back to the community by running a clinic for ACEing Autism, a national program designed to connect children on the autism spectrum with tennis. The players were fantastic coaches, bringing the same energy and positivity that defined their own matches.

Global representation

This year’s event brought together athletes from across the world, including Chile, Peru, Brazil, Great Britain, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the USA. The international presence highlighted how Para-Standing Tennis is expanding its reach and bringing people together through shared passion and purpose.

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