The 2024 US Open will not feature wheelchair tennis as the final Grand Slam of the season clashes with next year's Paralympics in Paris; US Open previously cancelled the wheelchair tournament in 2008, 2012 and 2016
Thursday 28 September 2023 13:22, UK
Wheelchair tennis will not take place at the 2024 US Open due to a scheduling clash with next year's Paralympics.
The 2024 US Open starts on August 26 and ends on September 8, with the Paralympics in Paris held in the same fortnight.
It's the fourth time wheelchair events have been cancelled at Flushing Meadows for the same reason - 2008, 2012 and 2016 were the previous years.
Sky Sports News has asked the ITF and US Open for comment.
Alfie Hewett defeated Gordon Reid in an all-British men's wheelchair singles final at this year's tournament and Diede de Groot from the Netherlands beat Japan's Yui Kamiji in the women's singles.
Andy Lapthorne, who reached the wheelchair quad doubles final and has won the title twice in his career, has criticised the decision from the US Open.
"Obviously it's really disappointing for us. We love playing in the Grand Slams, love having the opportunity to play in the big events," Lapthorne told Sky Sports News.
"For us as players, we don't earn the money that the able-bodied players earn from week to week at tour events. The majority of our income comes from the four biggest events, which are the Grand Slams and we have lots of players, especially players from countries that aren't getting funding like we are getting, they are going to really struggle as a result of no US Open.
"You are essentially asking them to go from Wimbledon in July all the way to Australia in January the year after, with no income.
"The US Open have done some great things in the past couple of years, increasing the draw size list, adding junior events and they always look after us really well.
"I just feel like this decision is too easy. If the able-bodied tournaments clashed with the Olympics, this would never happen. It would never be an option to cancel the event. The event would be moved around."
