By Mark LaRotonda, Special Programs Vice President
High temperatures did not keep three ALTA players from showing off at the USTA National campus in Orlando, Florida in September. Jordan Bates, John Grimsley, and Caleb Yun brought home some singles and doubles bling from the 2025 Junior Wheelchair National Championships.
In the B Division Singles, 13-year-old Bates was crowned the champion, and Grimsley, 16, finished third. These two paired up in the B Division Doubles competition and brought home gold. Yun, 14, paired with John Henry from California and grabbed the bronze. “The thing I enjoyed most about the tournament was reconnecting with friends from across the USA,” said Bates. “It was fun competing with them in matches, and fun hanging around at the hotel and eating together.”
Grimsley was awarded the tournament Sportsmanship Award for his “outstanding character, fair play, and conduct.”
“I really enjoyed getting to play at the USTA National Campus! The courts and all the facilities were great,” Grimsley said. “All of my matches were very competitive, and all my opponents were great sports. I also enjoyed watching the A players play because it gave me something to strive for.”
Yun achieved the noteworthy distinction of spending the most time on court in the 90-degree heat, playing 58 games and three tiebreaks in three singles matches! “I have been playing wheelchair tennis tournaments for three years now; however, this was my second time participating in the USTA Wheelchair Tennis Jr. National Tournament,” said Yun. “The most important thing I learned from my matches is the mental aspect of the sport, especially when matches get close. It’s easy to shut down and give up, but that mental fortitude to get back up and keep playing your hardest is really important.”
