The International Tennis Federation (ITF) Wheelchair Tennis Junior Masters will be held at
the Orange Bowl International Championships (11-14 December) for the first time.

As the premier season-ending championships for the world’s best junior wheelchair players,
the event has launched the careers of some of the sport’s biggest stars. Past champions
include Alfie Hewett, Tokito Oda, Diede de Groot, and Niels Vink all of whom have gone on
to achieve international success at the highest levels.

The Wheelchair Tennis Junior Masters has previously been held at Les Petits As, in Tarbes,
France and plays a key role in the development of junior wheelchair tennis. Building on that
legacy, the ITF is moving the tournament to the Orange Bowl to further evolve the junior
wheelchair division and provide the best possible experience for players.

The date of the Orange Bowl event also avoids a clash with the Australian Open Junior
Championships and ensures the season’s top-ranked juniors remain eligible to compete,
while aligning the U18 categories with the ITF junior division.

David Haggerty, ITF President, said: “Bringing the Wheelchair Tennis Junior Masters to the
Orange Bowl represents a major milestone for junior wheelchair tennis. This prestigious
stage has a long history of developing future champions, and by hosting our top junior
players here, we are providing them with an environment that challenges, inspires, and
elevates their game. It also reflects the ITF’s ongoing commitment to creating meaningful
opportunities and pathways for the next generation of wheelchair tennis stars, ensuring they
have every chance to compete, learn, and succeed at the highest levels”.

In 2025, the girls’ draw will expand from four to eight players, with the top seven boys and
top seven girls from the ITF Junior Rankings qualifying, plus one wildcard per draw. Players
will compete in round-robin groups of four, followed by finals and playoff matches.

Ahead of the tournament, the ITF will host a development camp for the 16 qualifying players
at the USTA National Campus in Orlando in partnership with the Cruyff Foundation and
multiple Grand Slam champion, Diede de Groot, who will provide mentoring to both players
and coaches.

The Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships, originally founded in 1947, has a
storied history of shaping tennis stars. By bringing the Wheelchair Junior Masters to this
prestigious stage, the ITF gives junior wheelchair players the same spotlight as other rising
stars of the sport.

Diede De Groot, said: “I’m really looking forward to training and coaching the young players
in Orlando, and I look forward to sharing tips on what it takes to become a top player and
hopefully inspire them.”

Jo Wallen, Managing Director, National & Global Events, USTA, said: “The USTA is
committed to integrating wheelchair tennis at the highest levels of the sport and we could not
be more excited to bring the Wheelchair Tennis Junior Masters to the Orange Bowl. This move reaffirms the Orange Bowl’s status as one of the world’s most prominent junior
tennis events and strengthens its legacy as a springboard for the sport’s rising stars”.

Doug Wiley, Chair of Orange Bowl’s Tennis Committee, said: “We are extremely honoured to
host the Wheelchair Tennis Junior Masters at the Orange Bowl International Tennis
Championships, providing a world-class stage for these incredible young athletes. This move
reflects our commitment to growing the game and celebrating the next generation of tennis
stars.”