Quad team beats Japan in thriller for bronze medal

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Recapping 2023 in Portugal

The Americans are returning home with the junior silver and quad bronze medals after the BNP Paribas World Team Cup in Vilamoura, Portugal. The U.S. juniors finished runners-up in a hard-fought 2-1 final against Great Britain, while the quad team clinched bronze with an equally-thrilling 2-1 triumph over Japan. 

 

The women, led by two-time Paralympians Dana Mathewson and Shelby Baron and 16-year-old Maylee Phelps, finished second in their group and then defeated Germany 2-0 in one of the ensuing play-offs to finish in sixth place. The men, who also finished second in their pool, later beat Poland on the strength of victories by Paralympians Casey Ratzlaff and Conner Stroud to finish in seventh place overall.

 

USTA Chairman of the Board and President Brian Hainline and his wife, Pascale, were among those in attendance during the event held at the Vilamoura Tennis Academy.

History

The BNP Paribas World Team Cup is the flagship international team competition in wheelchair tennis, born as its counterpart to the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup. The inaugural BNP Paribas World Team Cup was held in California in 1985 with six men’s teams. The women’s event began in 1986, with quad and juniors introduced in 1998 and 2000, respectively. 

Did You Know?

Eleven-time doubles Grand Slam champion and four-time Paralympian Nick Taylor, who retired in 2021, was a member of 21 consecutive U.S. World Team Cup teams in the quad division from 2000-21.