Elite wheelchair tennis players from across the world are coming to Kamloops from July 5-7 the 2024 Kamloops legacy wheelchair tennis tournament part of the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour.

With competition in the Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Quad, and Junior divisions, it promises to be one of our most exciting tournaments to date.

Men’s Open Division

This year’s tournament features arguably the most competitive Men’s field in its history, as six athletes ranked within the Top 100 and four in the Top 50 are registered to compete. Conner Stroud is the highest-ranked competitor. The American is 30th in the world and enters Kamloops on a roll following his victory at June’s Sani Sport International Open in Boucherville, Quebec.

Connor Stroud prepares to hit a tennis ball. He's a Caucasian male double amputee in his early 20's wearing a green and gold Nike tennis shirt with a white Nike hat. He's in a tennis chair and holding racket prepare to swing at a bright green tennis ball that hovers in front of his



Fellow entrants in the top 50 include Costa Rica’s Jose Pablo Gill, Germany’s Anthony Dittmar and Australia’s Ben Weeks.

Anmore’s Thomas Venos enters the tournament as the defending champion and sits just outside the world’s top 50 as he begins the home part of his tour season. Venos has achieved strong results this year, including a tournament win at April’s Credit Mutual Open in France, plus three ITF Doubles titles.  

BC's Thomas Venos chases down a tennis ball. preparing to hit a backhand He's a Caucasian male in his mid 20s. He's wearing a forest green and lime green tennis shirt sitting in a red and silver tennis chair.

Meanwhile, five teenagers will pull double duty and compete in the Men’s and Junior Divisions. BC duo Lachlan Sandford and John Chen will be joined in both draws by USA’s Charlie Cooper and Thomas Majestic and Australia’s Harrison Dudley.

Locals will have plenty to cheer for as BC’s Mark Bukata, Se-Youn Moon, and Patrick Levis join Thomas, Lachlan, and John as Team BC athletes in action next weekend.

Women’s Open Division

The Women’s Open Division should be a thriller. Five of the six competing women are ranked between 45th and 65th, and the sixth competitor is Frederique Perron, a rising junior talent who continues to improve.

Ranked 45th, reigning Canadian champion Natalie Lanucha should be the top seed. She recently won the Women’s Singles title at the Sani Sport International Open. Fellow Canadian Anne Marie Dolinar and American Laura Goodkind have battled with Lanucha on many occasions, and matches between any of the three are often exciting spectacles.
 
Australia’s Sally Schwartz and Costa Rica’s Valeria Valverde are making their first appearance in Kamloops and round out the Women’s Field.
 

Quad Division

It’s been a few years since there’s been a Quad Draw in Kamloops, but it returns this year with four athletes vying for the title. Vancouver’s Mitch McIntyre will be the local favorite. Ranked 25th in the world, he’s had an eventful 2024 with tournaments in France, Italy, Korea, and more as he pushes for the top 20.



American Andrew Bogdanov was victorious in Vancouver last year and will look to add another victory to his growing list of titles won in Canada.   Hisham Mohammed and Erduan Solak from Ontario round out the field in the small but mighty draw.

Mitch McIntyre

Junior Division

The next generation will take to the court in Kamloops, as six teenagers from Canada, the United States, and Australia will also vie for the junior title. Charlie Cooper will likely be the top seed. The talented American will look to defend his junior crown.

BCWSA will be well represented in the junior division as reigning Canadian junior champion John Chen and continually improving Lachlan Sandford will be giving their all against old and new rivals.

 

Charlie Cooper
Learn More

The tournament draw will take place on Thursday, July 4 with matches commencing on the morning of Friday, July 5. Spectators are welcome and admission is free at the Kamloops Tenns Centre.

To learn more about Wheelchair Tennis in BC, contact:
Makenna Bailey – Program Manager: Wheelchair Tennis
makenna@bcwheelchairsports.com

For media inquiries, contact:
Nathan Bragg – Senior Communications Coordinator
communications@bcwheelchairsports.com
604-715-7298

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