Cajun Classic 2026: Preview, draw, schedule, player list & how to follow
• 2 minute read
The second ITF Super Series events of the 2026 UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour, the Cajun Classic returns this March with nine Brits set to contest one of the biggest wheelchair tournaments outside of the four Grand Slams.
Find out everything you need to know about the dates, draws, players and how to follow the 2026 Cajun Classic.
When is the Cajun Classic 2026?
The second of two back-to-back tournaments in the USA this month, the Cajun Classic takes place from Tuesday 17 March through to Sunday 22 March, straight after the ITF 1 Series Georgia Open.
Where is the Cajun Classic 2026 being held?
The Lamar Tennis Centre, a 20-court facility located in the campus grounds of the Paula G. Manship YMCA in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is home to the Cajun Classic.
Who are the reigning Cajun Classic champions?
- Men’s singles – Alfie Hewett (GBR)
- Women’s singles – Aniek Van Koot (NED)
- Quad singles – Niels Vink (NED)
- Men’s doubles – Alfie Hewett & Gordon Reid (GBR)
- Women’s doubles – Lucy Shuker (GBR) & Aniek Van Koot (NED)
- Quad doubles – Heath Davidson (AUS) & Niels Vink (NED)
When is the Cajun Classic 2026 draw?
The Cajun Classic 2026 draw will take place on the eve of the tournament, Monday 16 March.
Which British players be competing at the Cajun Classic 2026?
Nine Brits will contest the Cajun Classic across the men’s, women’s and quad singles and doubles draws, with four-time champion Alfie Hewett out to try and retain the men’s title he won for the fifth time after defeating world No.3 Martin de la Puente of Spain in Baton Rouge in 2025.
Hewett won his first two titles in Baton Rouge in 2017 and 2018 before adding the 2022 and 2024 titles. He starts this year’s tournament as world No.2.
Hewett and fellow Brit Gordon Reid completed a hat-trick of Cajun Classic doubles titles last year, too, and will aim to extend their winning sequence this year. Reid is also a former singles champion, having won the 2014 Cajun Classic title.
Ben Bartram and Andrew Penney bolster the British presence in the men’s singles and doubles.
British No.1 Lucy Shuker’s career-highlights in Baton Rouge date back to 2009 when she won the first of two back-to-back doubles titles partnering Dutchwoman Aniek van Koot. Shuker added a third Cajun Classic doubles title in 2015 and a fourth in 2018. She made it a third doubles title with Van Koot last year and the Anglo-Dutch duo will also bid to retain their title this year.
Abbie Breakwell is set to make her tournament debut in Baton Rouge this year after recently breaking into the women’s singles top 25 for the first time in her career.
Andy Lapthorne is set to be joined by British No.2 Greg Slade and British No.3 Oliver Cox in the quad singles and doubles this year.
British No.1 and world No.5 Lapthorne has won four quad doubles titles to date in Baton Rouge, lifting the title in 2015 and 2017 with fellow Brits Jamie Burdekin and Antony Cotterill, respectively, before partnering the USA’s David Wagner to also win again in 2022 and 2024. Lapthorne was a doubles finalist at last year’s Cajun Classic
A singles quarter-finalist last year before bowing out in three sets to Dutch second seed and eventual champion Sam Schroder, Lapthorne will set out to try and win his second Cajun Classic singles title after first being victorious in 2012.
Slade returns to Baton Rouge for the second time in three years, while Cox makes his Cajun Classic debut this year.
How to follow the Cajun Classic 2026
Daily news from the Cajun Classic 2026 will be available via the LTA’s Wheelchair Tennis X and Facebook channels
The draws will be updated daily on the ITF website here, where you will also find links to the live scores and daily live streams.
