Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/1547080
Our goal is to increase investment into wheelchair tennis and drive growth in both pathway standards and participation. In time for the sport's 50th anniversary, we launched a revamped Uniqlo Wheelchair Tennis Tour with a new calendar structure in 2026. Premier Tier The new structure provides a stronger progression pathway in the wheelchair game, one that is even more effective at enhancing the careers of professional and pro-aspiring players. The top level is now the Premier Tier, which includes Grand Slam events, the end-of year-Masters, and 1000, 500 and 250 grade tournaments. Our ambition is to elevate prize money and organisational standards at these and increase in-event promotion to boost the sport's profile. A key goal of the pathway strategy is to stage more integrated events, where wheelchair competition takes place at ATP and WTA tournaments. This follows the successful model established at all four Grand Slams events. In 2026 there are 16 integrated events planned to year-end. The next level on the Tour is the International Tier covering tournament grades 175, 100, 50. This is designed for international and professional-aspiring players, to provide regular international competition at regional level, with progression opportunities to the Premier Tier. The Development Tier is the entry point and includes World Tennis tournament grade 25 and national-level events. It aims to be affordable and accessible to new and developing players starting their competitive wheelchair tennis journey. New-look World Team Cup The BNP Paribas World Team Cup is the wheelchair tennis equivalent of Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup. It continues to provide four regional qualification events, this year contested by 43 nations, and a remodelled World Group stage was held in Orlando, Florida in September. The trophies were won by Great Britain, Netherlands and Netherlands again in the men's, women's and quad categories respectively. The Junior World Team Cup was held in May, with separate boys' and girls' competitions for the first time. Previously, 18&U players competed in mixed junior teams, and this change supports gender equality and provides a meaningful competitive and developmental opportunity. Talent development A new Junior Wheelchair Tennis Festival was launched in 2026 as a holistic opportunity for young players to experience competition, skills development and training activities all in one place. Held in Belgium, the event combined the Junior World Team Cup and a regular junior Tour event with training clinics for young people aspiring to play the sport competitively. For the very best girls and boys, we continue to increase opportunities. Three of the four Grand Slams now stage junior events, and the season- ending Wheelchair Tennis Junior Masters is now held alongside the prestigious Orange Bowl junior tournament in Florida. Tour footprint expands China has become a dominant force in the women's wheelchair game following Wang Ziying's breakthrough Grand Slam singles victory at Wimbledon in 2025. More success for the nation has followed, and it is a vast new growth market for the sport. We staged a major wheelchair tennis event in China for the first time in 2025 when the NEC Singles and Uniqlo Doubles Masters were held in Huzhou. This year's event will be held in Barcelona, Spain. 50 years of wheelchair tennis To celebrate our landmark 50th anniversary, World Tennis launched a Wheelchair Tennis Hall of Champions to honour the pioneers and legends of the sport who played key roles in its development, with induction ceremonies being held in 2026 and beyond. 25 l We Are World Tennis 2026 Tours & Player Pathway