Sport
10 November, 2024
Aussie-first US Open title
CAIRNS’ wheelchair tennis sensation Ben Wenzel has become the first Australian junior to win a grand slam after his doubles victory at the US Open in September and he’s only getting started.
Fresh out of his first win at the US Open, Ben Wenzel from Redlynch says his tennis is about to get even more interesting.
Since his victory in junior doubles next to his Dutch partner Ivan van Rijt, Wenzel has been reclassified into the quad category which has opened a new world of possibilities.
With the reclassification, Wenzel thinks 2025 could be the most interesting year of his career and it has encouraged him to aspire for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.
“It’s awesome to have won my first grand slam, to be the first Australian junior to win a grand slam title and it’s something that gives me a lot of confidence and has me excited for what the future holds,” he said.
“Recently after the US Open I was reclassified into the Quad division which is the same division as Dylan Alcott used to play and by changing categories my career has gotten a lot more exciting.
“I’ll get to play against different people, ones that are similar to my disability type which gives me more of a leveled playing field which can potentially take my tennis further as well.
“I’m starting my transition from my junior to adult career and it’s very exciting.”
Since his last chat with Cairns Local News, Mr Wenzel said things had changed a lot and goals had shifted, including his Paralympic dream.
“Coming into year 12 I want to focus on school as much as I said I would before, but I think my tennis is also going to increase,” he said.
“We’re going to see me doing a lot more travel than what we originally thought before the US Open because of the reclassification and how well I did in the tournament.
“It has also shifted my goal towards making it to LA 2028, so I’m really satisfied with how this year has gone at this point, having done so well at the US Open, at the World Team Cup and other titles.
“The next goal for me is to make it to my home grand slam, so the Australian Open next year and I’m hoping I get to do that with where my ranking is at the moment.
“And my goal in terms of where I want to take my tennis is improving my quad ranking so I can play in the adult grand slams and that’s a two-to-three-year plan.
“The next couple of years are going to be really exciting and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Mr Wenzel is currently competing in the Australian National Wheelchair Tennis Championships in Melbourne.
