With the US Open set to become the first Grand Slam to host a junior wheelchair tennis draw the upcoming events in New York will expand the number of players whose pathway to competing in one of the sport’s four majors has included a solid grounding at a Cruyff Foundation International Junior Wheelchair Tennis Camp.

Although yet to be confirmed, those who could be among the eight boys and eight girls who have the opportunity of contesting the inaugural junior event in New York are the USA’s Maylee Phelps and Charlie Cooper, who both triumphed in the singles competitions that were part of the recent Cruyff Foundation International Junior Wheelchair Tennis Camp for the Americas in the USA.

“It was what camp is supposed to be – fun,” said the USTA’s Paul Walker, in reviewing this year’s camp, which saw 20 eager players aged between 10 and 18 benefitting from a wide-ranging schedule at the University of Houston in Texas. Participants came from seven different states in the USA, as well as players and coaches from Canada and Guatemala.

From breakfast at 7.15am through to lights out, there was plenty for all ages and abilities to enjoy and learn from, assisted by camp coordinators from the University of Houston Adaptive Athletics Department under the leadership of former USTA Brad Parks Award winning Dr Michael Cottingham.

Three hours of tennis during the morning sessions were devoted to technical and tactical drills, with Cindy Benzon of USTA Texas and Shelby Baron, two-time Paralympian and a former Cruyff Foundation Junior Camp participant, leading some of the players through the USTA’s Net Generation curriculum.

The players got chance to put into practise what they had learned during the afternoon sessions, with point-by point and match play opportunities and the traditional ITF Junior Series tournament that is now a traditional part of any Cruyff Foundation Junior Wheelchair Tennis Camp.

“Eight boys and four girls participated in the ITF Junior Series tournament. For several players, it was their first ever international tournament and they were fired up,” said Walker. “Congrats to all the players who participated and to Charlie Cooper and Maylee Phelps, as they won the boys’ and girls’ tournaments, respectively.”

While 14-year-old Cooper and 15-year-old Phelps have already represented USA at the BNP Paribas World Team Cup, there was immediate career progress for Phelps and 18-year-old fellow camper Lily Lautenschlager, who went on to win their first senior title together a week later, in the women’s doubles at the ITF 3 Series Vancouver International.

Lautenschlager joined Mathias Krodel in ending the Junior Camp as winners of the ‘top cougar’ award, while the award for ‘most improved’ went to Treah Davis and John Chen and the ‘warrior spirit award went to Lily Terral.

“The Texas heat and humidity was powerful, but so was the will of each coach and camper,” added Walker. “Their progress from day one to day five was remarkable. Each camper got a nickname, new friends were made and existing friendships were strengthened. The camp officially ended with coaches and camp coordinators ambushing the campers in a well-coordinated water fight.

“It was an amazing week. A huge thank you to the University of Houston for hosting, the USTA and USTA Texas for supporting, the Johan Cruyff Foundation, a world leader in promoting adaptive sports, and to the ITF for their continued support in growing the sport of wheelchair tennis globally.”

Tennis was not the only camp activity, with evening entertainments that included board games, video games and a movie night, while wheelchair basketball at the University of Houston Recreation Centre, bowling, shopping and a visit to watch the Houston Dynamo FC soccer team play FC Dallas were all part of the itinerary.

More of the same variety of fun, competition and on and off-court activities and player development continues at this week’s Cruyff Foundation International European Junior Camp in the Netherlands, which welcomes 21 players from eight countries before next month’s Cruyff Foundation International African Junior Camp.