Celebrating 50 Years of Wheelchair Tennis with Diede de Groot, Daniela Di Toro and Gordon Reid

In this special edition of the Tennisworthy Podcast, Patrick McEnroe and Chris Bowers highlight and celebrate 2026's 50th anniversary of the sport of Wheelchair Tennis. Chris brights insightful intergenerational conversations with three of the sport's most decorated athletes: Diede de Groot, Daniela Di Toro, and Gordon Reid.

The guests reflect on the dramatic evolution of the game, from playing in everyday collapsible wheelchairs to the elite athleticism seen today at all four Grand Slams. They discuss the "Dutch dominance" inspired by legend Esther Vergeer, the importance of visibility for women in disability sports, and the shift toward being recognized as high-performance athletes rather than just "inspirational" backstories. From Paralympic gold medals to the "running tennis" vs. able-bodied debate, discover how wheelchair tennis has spent 50 years breaking barriers and building a global community.

Diede de Groot is one of the most accomplished athletes in wheelchair tennis history. She is a 42-time major champion, and former world No. 1 in both singles and doubles. She is the first wheelchair tennis player to ever complete the quintuple career Grand Slam, and is a five-time Paralympic medalist for the Netherlands.

Daniela Di Toro is a former world No. 1 in singles, and captured two US Open titles, the 2000 Wheelchair Tennis Masters Doubles title, and two-time Paralympic medalist. Following her 2005 retirement, she remains active in the wheelchair tennis community in her home country of Australia.

Gordon Reid is a 29-time major champion, including a record 27 in doubles, and former world No. 1 in both singles and doubles. The Brit has captured three Paralympic medals, including gold with partner Alfie Hewett in 2024.