on 01-08-2014 16:49

The trio of British players on the Tennis Foundation’s Wheelchair Tennis Performance Programme return to contest each of the men’s, women’s and Quad Singles and Doubles events at the final Grand Slam tournament of the year from September 4-7.

After making her US Open debut in 2013, Whiley will return to New York this year aiming to make British tennis history, having partnered Japan’s Yui Kamiji to win the women’s Doubles at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon already this season. Whiley, part of an elite field of eight women’s players for the Singles and Doubles in New York, will be bidding to become the first Brit to win the same event at all four Grand Slams in the same calendar year.

Whiley and Kamiji will also bid to emulate Jiske Griffioen and Aniek van Koot, who became the third all-Dutch partnership to win all four Grand Slam women’s Doubles titles in the same season in 2013, but finished runners-up to Whiley and Kamiji in Paris and at Wimbledon this season.

"I’m so excited for the opportunity me and Yui have..." Jordanne Whiley

“It’s been a remarkable year already and, after achieving a childhood dream becoming the first British woman to win a Grand Slam Wheelchair Tennis title at Wimbledon, I’m so excited for the opportunity me and Yui have to win the set of all four major titles,” said Whiley, whose Wimbledon victory took her to No.2 in the women’s Doubles world rankings, directly behind Kamiji.

Reid and Lapthorne made their US Open debuts in 2013, too, and both head to the USA this time on the back of reaching the men’s Singles and Quad Singles finals at the British Open, one of six Super Series tournaments that are the most important events on the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour outside of the Grand Slams.

Reid reached the men’s Singles semi-finals in New York in 2013 and the world No.3 ranked Scot was a also a Singles semi-finalist and Doubles finalist at Roland Garros in 2013 and a Singles semi-finalist at Roland Garros this year after being a Doubles finalist at the Australian Open in January.

Lapthorne, world No. 3 in the Quad Singles rankings, won his third Australian Open Quad Doubles title in January and is part of an elite field of four players for the Quad Singles and Doubles events in New York alongside American world No.1 David Wagner, South Africa’s world No.2 and defending champion Lucas Sithole and the USA’s world No.6 Nick Taylor.

"It’s been a very good season for our British players at this year’s Super Series and Grand Slam tournaments." Geraint Richard

“It’s been a very good season for our British players at this year’s Super Series and Grand Slam tournaments and I’m sure Jordanne, Gordon and Andy will acquit themselves very well again in the USA in the coming weeks, with the final Super Series of 2014 taking place in St. Louis at the end of August ahead of the US Open,” said Geraint Richard, the Tennis Foundation’s Head of Disability Player Performance.

"Jordanne’s success at Wimbledon with Yui really put Jordanne and Wheelchair Tennis in the spotlight." Geraint Richard

“Jordanne’s success at Wimbledon with Yui really put Jordanne and Wheelchair Tennis in the spotlight and we hope that that success will continue in New York and that more and more people will be inspired to take up this fantastic sport that offer opportunities to play at all levels as part of a healthy and active lifestyle.”