Brad Parks Marks 50 Years Since Inventing Wheelchair Tennis, Now a 4-Slam Paralympic Sport
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 7
Brad Parks Marks 50 Years Since Inventing Wheelchair Tennis, Now a 4-Slam Paralympic Sport
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 7
Summary
Fifty years after a 1976 picnic in Indiana, Brad Parks is being celebrated for turning a post-accident idea into Wheelchair Tennis, a sport built around one enduring rule change: players may take two bounces.
Parks and physiotherapist Jeff Minnebraker refined the game in the late 1970s, held a first event in California in 1977 and pushed past skepticism, poor public courts and heavy 60lb hospital wheelchairs.
The sport then scaled quickly: a 10-tournament U.S. circuit launched in 1980, the International Wheelchair Tennis Federation formed in 1988, and wheelchair tennis entered the Paralympics in 1992.
Mainstream integration followed when the Australian Open staged a wheelchair event in 2002 and all four Grand Slams had them by 2007; Wimbledon’s 2026 event offers more than £1 million, with singles winners earning £82,000.
Today’s stars including Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid credit Parks’ idea with creating a global sport whose Wimbledon finals now fill 12,345-seat Court One instead of the 276-seat court used a decade ago.
With £1M prize pots, is wheelchair tennis leaving its grassroots origins behind?
How did a simple two-bounce rule redefine what it means to be an athlete in a wheelchair?
50 Years of Wheelchair Tennis: From Grassroots Beginnings to Global Recognition and Future Growth
Overview
In 2026, wheelchair tennis celebrates its 50th anniversary, marking a golden era defined by unprecedented growth, increased visibility, and a strong commitment to inclusion. The sport has achieved significant integration at the highest levels, with all four Grand Slams fully incorporating wheelchair competitions since 2007. This integration has led to larger draws, higher prize money, and matches on major show courts, greatly elevating the sport’s profile. Recent upgrades, like the Lexus British Open Roehampton reaching ITF WC1000 status, highlight the sport’s enhanced competitive landscape and growing recognition. Looking ahead, there is widespread optimism for continued expansion, deeper integration, and inspiring future generations.