By Ashley Marshall, USTA.com
Two of the most decorated wheelchair tennis players in history will lead Team USA at the 2016 BNP Paribas World Team Cup later this month.
David Wagner (pictured above) and Nick Taylor, three-time defending Paralympic doubles gold medalists, headline a strong American team competing at the ITF’s flagship tournament at Ariake Tennis Forest Park in Tokyo, May 23-28.
Behind the duo, which has won seven US Open Wheelchair Competition doubles tiles, the U.S. quad team will look to defend its 2015 crown and claim its 10th title in the past 16 years. The U.S. junior team also has its sights set on repeating as champions after winning its first title in 15 years with a victory over the Netherlands last year.
The inaugural event was held in California in 1985 involving six men’s teams. The women’s competition began the following year, with quad and junior events introduced in 1998 and 2000, respectively. The event has experienced continued growth since.
A total of 52 teams representing 29 countries will take part in the 2016 competition. Teams will compete in the men’s World Group (12 nations), men’s World Group 2 (12 nations), women’s World Group (12 nations), quad event (8 teams) and junior event (8 teams). The event will take place on hard courts.
Representing the United States at the 2016 BNP Paribas World Team Cup will be:
Men's Team |
|
Quad Team |
|
Jason Harnett (Coach) |
Irvine, CA |
John Devorss (Coach) |
Salem, OR |
Steve Baldwin |
San Diego, CA |
Bryan Barten |
Tucson, AZ |
Hunter Groce |
Tucson, AZ |
Greg Hasterok |
San Diego, CA |
Jon Rydberg |
Woodbury, MN |
Nick Taylor |
Wichita, KS |
|
|
David Wagner |
Hillsboro, OR |
|
|
|
|
Women's Team |
|
Junior Team |
|
Paul Walker (Coach) |
Lakeland, FL |
Dan James (Coach) |
Seattle, WA |
Shelby Baron |
Honolulu, HI |
Chris Herman |
Gulfport, FL |
Emmy Kasier |
Ft. Mitchell, KY |
Casey Ratzlaff |
Wichita, KS |
Dana Mathewson |
San Diego, CA |
Conner Stroud |
Rutherfordton, NC |
Kaitlyn Verfuerth |
Flagstaff, AZ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
<strong>Certified Athletic Trainer |
|
Team Manager |
|
Jenna Street |
Colorado Springs, CO |
Emily Sandor |
White Plains, NY |