We welcomed professional ATP player, Dan Evans as our first ambassador last year and are now delighted to announce that Nicky Maxwell, international para-standing tennis player is our latest ambassador and addition to our team. Nicky, a former Harvard sprinter and single leg amputee para-standing tennis player will be assisting The QCF in developing our work further in the inclusive tennis arena.
Nicky is currently working with the LTA as a disability tennis advisor to help get this tennis category recognised in the UK alongside studying for his Masters in International Relations in the US. Nicky recently promoted the sport playing at US Open 2023 in a Para-Standing Tennis exhibition.
Para-Standing Tennis is a category of tennis for individuals with a physical disability – such as amputees, Cerebral Palsy or individuals who have suffered a stroke – who wish to play ambulatory tennis instead of using a wheelchair. The category is currently recognised in several other countries, including the US, Australia, Chile, Japan, Germany, and Sweden.
Nicky is looking forward to supporting The QCF and has already been involved in one of our popular family inclusive festivals at The Queen’s Club, where he spoke about his experience of tennis to the children and their parents at the event.
Nicky Maxwell said “I am so excited to be working with The QCF. They are an outstanding organisation that is instinctively supportive of disability sport, and I am so excited to help grow participation in tennis among a new audience. It is an exciting time for para-standing tennis in the UK and globally, and I am grateful that The QCF is in the vanguard of that effort.”
Kate Maurici, Head of Foundation, said: “Nicky is an inspirational athlete, whose passion for tennis, and his gentle sense of humour make him extremely popular amongst those to whom we deliver our outreach programmes. We are really looking forward to working with Nicky to help widen knowledge of the opportunities for those with disabilities to take up the sport”
Dan Evans