National High-Performance Program

National High-Performance Program

Tennis Canada has created a player development pathway with the vision of becoming a world leading wheelchair tennis nation.  The pathway comprises four pillars, two of which are focused specifically on high performance development: perform and podium. It includes all playing divisions and is linked to the Tennis Canada Whole Player Development Pathway and the result of studying international best practices. The pathway is illustrated in Figure 1 below. 

Tennis Canada provides extensive support to the Paralympic Stream or National Stream athletes with the long-term goal of podium results at the Paralympic and Parapan Am Games and World Team Cup. Benefits and services may include financial assistance for travel or training, coaching on the road, training camps, court privileges at National Tennis Centres, and access to sport specialists and the Sport Canada Athlete Assistance Program. 

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National Team Players

Did you know that our National High-Performance players are among the best players in the world? They have represented Canada at major international events, such as Paralympic and Parapan Am Games as well as World Team Cup. All the national team members play 10 to 15 tournaments on average per year as part of the ITF circuit all around the world. Get to know the players by clicking on their images below:

Successful Results

• Rob Shaw was the silver medalist at the 2023 Para Pan Am Games, qualified for all 4 Grand Slam events, and the Year-end Singles & Doubles Masters. Shaw was also the first Canadian to win a singles gold medal at a multi-sports event at the 2019 Para Pan Am Games  
• Thomas Venos won his 4^th consecutive NCAA men´s singles title for the University of Alabama in 2023 and was the first Canadian to graduate from a US university as part of a wheelchair tennis program. 
• Natalia Lanucha reached a career high #43 ITF women´s singles ranking and won 2 ITF singles events nd the 2023 Birmingham Nationals 
• Rob Shaw is the first Canadian ever to win a singles gold medal at a multi-sports event at the 2019 Para Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru
• Sarah Hunter was the highest-ranked Canadian wheelchair tennis player in history reaching world No. 2 in 2003 and finished 4^th in doubles at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games 
• Philippe Bedard and Joel Dembe were the first Canadian players to win a medal at multi-sports games by winning the doubles bronze medal at the 2015 Toronto Para Pan Am Games 
• Canadian teams posted strong results in the World Team Cup world group including: women’s team 4^th place (1998, 2004, 2005, 2006), quad team 4^th place (2003), and men’s team 8^th place (1988, 1990, 2000) 

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National Development Program