The US Open added wheelchair singles and doubles tournaments in 2005.
This expansion made wheelchair tennis an official part of the US Open program, alongside the tournament’s established men’s, women’s, mixed-doubles, junior, and senior competitions. Wheelchair events are played by athletes with eligible physical impairments and use modified rules, including the two-bounce rule: the ball may bounce twice before it is returned.
The timing is easy to confuse because the US Open introduced quad wheelchair events one year later, in 2006. Quad events are for players with impairments affecting three or more limbs and have additional equipment and classification considerations. Thus, 2005 refers specifically to the first wheelchair singles and doubles tournaments, while 2006 refers to the quad expansion.
The wheelchair competition has also become part of wider conversations about inclusion and scheduling at major sporting events. Although the 2020 US Open was held during the COVID-19 pandemic, its wheelchair tournament was initially canceled before the USTA reversed course after criticism from players.