The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has sanctioned a fresh calendar arrangement, leading to an increase in the number of professional wheelchair tennis competitions held alongside ATP and WTA tournaments in the coming year.
While the exact competitions remain to be determined, the ITF has indicated that a “substantial quantity” of new events will be integrated into ATP and WTA tournaments, resulting in a calendar characterized by “improved standards” and “increased prize money”.
Currently, all four Grand Slam tournaments host both wheelchair and standard tennis events, in addition to six ATP and WTA tournaments.
Alfie Hewett of Great Britain, a 33-time Grand Slam champion in both singles and doubles, noted that this growth offers a “significant prospect for athletes to advance their careers”.
Hewett, the world number two who recently lost to Tokito Oda in the Wimbledon wheelchair singles final, stated: “Now is the opportune moment to capitalize on the chance to further develop our sport and establish integrated events as the standard rather than the exception.”
David Haggerty, the president of the ITF, commented that the organization is “building on the achievements of the limited number of existing integrated events to develop a tour that is even more effective at improving the careers of professional players and those aspiring to be.”
Starting in 2026, the wheelchair tennis tour will be divided into three levels: Premier, International, and Development.
The Premier Tier constitutes the highest level, with tournaments classified as Grand Slam or Masters events, or designated as 1000, 500, and 250 events in accordance with ATP and WTA standards.
