Celebrating 50 years of wheelchair tennis with 50 images

From a radical idea to a global sport 

Wheelchair tennis was created in 1976, by American Brad Parks, as he rehabilitated following a lifechanging skiing accident. Alongside fellow rehabilitation patient Jeff Minnenbraker, he adapted the sport, showing that with the allowance of two bounces, tennis could be both accessible and fiercely competitive.

Californian, Brad Parks, founder of wheelchair tennis in 1976, at the sport’s 1986 US Open, the forerunner to inclusion in the Grand Slam in 2005.  (Photo by Todd Friedman/Popperfoto via Getty Images) 

What began on public courts in California quickly gathered momentum. The first wheelchair tennis tournament was held in May 1977 in Los Angeles and by the mid‑1980s, international tournaments were being staged, the World Team Cup had been launched, and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) had formally recognised wheelchair tennis. Today, wheelchair tennis is fully embedded across the four Grand Slams and the Paralympics Games, with men’s, women’s, quad and junior events now contested on the world’s biggest stages. 

Having become established in Britain 40 years ago, British wheelchair tennis players have played a central role in shaping the sport’s competitive and cultural history. In the men’s wheelchair game, Jayant Mistry was one of Britain’s leading figures during the 1990s and early 2000s, competing at four Paralympic Games and achieving landmark success on the Grand Slam stage. Alongside him, Peter Norfolk as one of the sport’s most dominant forces of the late 1990s and early 2000s, helped to raise the profile of quad wheelchair tennis through sustained success at Grand Slams and Paralympic Games.  

In recent years, wheelchair tennis has been carried forward by a new generation, most notably Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid, who together and individually, have delivered Grand Slam titles, Paralympic medals and world number one rankings, cementing Britain’s position as a leading force in men’s wheelchair tennis. Quad wheelchair athletes such as Andy Lapthorne and Greg Slade have represented Great Britain with distinction at Grand Slams and Paralympic Games. 

Record-breaking partnership Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid celebrate becoming the first men’s wheelchair doubles pairing to complete the career Golden Slam at Paris 2024. (Photo by Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images) 

British female players have remained a consistent presence on the international stage. Lucy Shuker’s career stands out as one of the most enduring in the sport’s history, spanning five Paralympic Games, and seeing her be flagbearer for Paris 2024. Jordanne Whiley played a key role alongside Lucy Shuker, together they secured two bronze and a silver Paralympic medal. A history maker in her own right, Jordanne was also the first British female wheelchair tennis player to win a singles Paralympic medal and to complete the calendar grand slam with Japanese partner, Yui Kamiji in 2014.

Doubles bronze medallists Lucy Shuker and Jordanne Whiley made history at London 2012, becoming the first British female tennis players to win a Paralympic medal. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) 

Using a visual language to tell the story of wheelchair tennis  

Led by Getty Images’ Senior Director of Creative EMEA, Jacqueline Bourke, the LTA brought together key figures from the world of wheelchair tennis, Marshall Thomas, Jayant Mistry and Caroline MacDonald, on a panel to curate and select 50 images exploring five themes:   

The exhibition includes iconic images from across the years from Getty Images’ vast tennis archive, as well as previously unseen historic photographs contributed by Dawn Newbery.  

Great Britain’s Peter Norfolk OBE celebrates winning the first of his two successive Paralympic quad singles gold medals in Athens in 2004. (Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images) 

View the full digital gallery 

Jayant Mistry former British No.1, four-times Paralympian and Grand Slam winner said, "50 years of wheelchair tennis is a significant milestone for our sport, and an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come in the past five decades.  

“Coming together to reminisce and select images for this exhibition, with others from the wheelchair tennis community, the LTA and Getty Images, was a really meaningful experience. 

"It has been 40 years since wheelchair tennis became established in Britain. I am very proud to have played a small part in its history amongst the incredible individuals showcased in the exhibition and the many more we didn't have space for." 

Marshall Thomas BEM, who played an integral role in driving coverage of wheelchair tennis on the national and international stage for over a quarter of a century, said, 'Since first being asked to be press officer for the British Open in 1997, as wheelchair tennis approached its 25th  anniversary, the sport has taken me on a magical journey.  

"Helping to put together this exhibition and reliving so many historic moments, I realise how many more are worthy of inclusion, if only we'd had the space.  

"To every player, colleague, tournament director, coach, parent and family member out there who've shared this journey, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Here's to the next 50 years."  

Caroline MacDonald, wheelchair tennis player for 30 years and LTA Disability Advisory Group member said, “The journey of wheelchair tennis from inception on a Californian park in 1976 to a much loved worldwide sport is a story involving many thousands of people and millions of moments.  

“Choosing fifty images to tell our story is a huge privilege, hopefully our selection offers a glimpse into the wider picture, celebrates achievements, pays homage to all those who have helped develop the sport and inspires the next generation of players.” 

Jacqueline Bourke, Getty Images Senior Director of Creative EMEA said, “Curating this exhibition with the LTA, Jayant, Marshall and Caroline has been a wonderfully inspiring experience and is much more than simply looking back. It has been both a rich journey of discovery and creation – collaboratively shaping an inclusive visual celebration of wheelchair tennis that reflects the full richness of this sport. 

Our research shows that 71% of people globally believe promoting positivity towards disability in sport helps break down stereotypes. By bringing together the people who shape and champion the sport in visuals– from pioneers and players to leaders, volunteers, support networks and wider communities – we've built a visual foundation grounded in lived experience. Ultimately, the aim is to inspire the next wave of visual storytelling around wheelchair tennis for the next 50 years!"  

Matt Elkington, LTA EDI Programme Manager for Disabled People said,“Bringing together Marshall, Jayant and Caroline, under the expert leadership of Jacqueline, to distil five decades of history into fifty images, has been a meaningful and at times moving experience.  

“Whether players just want a casual knock about or to be a Paralympian winning medals on the world stage, wheelchair tennis has made our sport more accessible to so many more people. 

“We hope this milestone will inspire the next generation of athletes to get involved with wheelchair tennis and many other formats of our sport through the LTA’s Open Court programme.”

Celebrating five decades of wheelchair tennis  

As national governing body for tennis in Britain, the LTA and the Tennis Foundation have played a significant role in the development of wheelchair tennis in Great Britain, supporting an elite wheelchair performance pathway and grassroots participation through LTA Open Court.  

Inclusion of disabled people in tennis sits at the heart of the LTA’s vision of tennis opened up, and mission to transform communities through tennis. Our Open For All ambition is to continue to be a world leader in opening tennis up for disabled people. 

The LTA want to use this anniversary as an opportunity to celebrate the success of the British and global wheelchair tennis over the past 50 years, as well as inspire a new generation of players and supporters that will continue the growth of wheelchair tennis for the next 50 years. 

To mark the 50‑year milestone, the LTA is spotlighting wheelchair tennis across its grass‑court season. Alongside the digital exhibition, there will be an induction of British individuals and organisations to the ITF’s Wheelchair Tennis Hall of Champions will recognise those who have shaped the sport on and off court, taking place at the Lexus Eastbourne Open. Get In and Go wheelchair tennis taster sessions, powered by Lexus, will also allow event spectators to try wheelchair tennis using specialist sports wheelchairs, provided by Alfie Hewett.