This week, wheelchair tennis pioneer and Hall of Famer Rick Draney joins Served to discuss the fascinating beginnings and evolution of the sport.
He and Andy Roddick explore how a life-changing injury led Draney to pick up a racket, how he played a key role in shaping the quad division, and how the sport continues to evolve through technology and inclusivity. From its rich history to the inspiring stories of incredible athletes past and present, this episode is a celebration of all things wheelchair tennis.
Plus, Andy recaps the ‘family feud’ in Shanghai and Coco Gauff’s win in Wuhan. Click below to watch now or keep reading for the full breakdown.
Celebrating the Icons of Wheelchair Tennis
Rick Draney was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2023 with Dutch star Esther Vergeer, the most decorated women’s wheelchair tennis player ever.
Vergeer ended her career with a remarkable 169 singles titles, 48 Grand Slams in singles and doubles, and an overall match record of 1140-60.
On the men’s side, Japan’s Shingo Kunieda holds the all-time record for major singles titles in any tennis discipline with 28. In total, he won 50 Grand Slams across singles and doubles, along with four Paralympic gold medals.
Andy and Rick Draney discuss how those legends inspired the next generation of stars, like 19-year-old Tokito Oda who captured the Career Golden Slam in singles by winning the US Open in September.
Vacherot Beats Cousin Rinderknech to Win Shanghai Masters
Valentin Vacherot beat his cousin, and former Texas A&M teammate, Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Sunday to win his first ATP title. Not only did the 26-year-old become the lowest-ranked Masters 1000 champion in history, he’s the first player from Monaco to win a singles trophy on the ATP Tour.
Entering Shanghai ranked World No. 204, Vacherot jumped 164 rankings spots to No. 40. After getting through qualifying, he rattled off wins over Alexander Bublik, Holger Rune, and Novak Djokovic to reach the final.
Andy shares his thoughts on one of the best stories of the season and explains why Vacherot’s remarkable run sets up his 2026 campaign perfectly.
Gauff Defeats Pegula in All-American Wuhan Final
World No. 3 Coco Gauff defeated Jess Pegula 6-4, 7-5 on Sunday to win the WTA 1000 title in Wuhan. The 21-year-old became the first woman to begin her career with a 9-0 record in hard-court finals. The two-time major winner has now captured three 1000-level titles in her career.
Despite the loss, Pegula became the sixth player to qualify for next month’s WTA Finals in Riyadh. Mirra Andreeva, Jasmine Paolini, and Elena Rybakina are the three players contending for the final two spots.
Andy breaks down Gauff’s victory and drops a bold prediction about the future of her game.
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Padel in Pakistan: Pakistan is set to host its first international padel tournament, two years after opening its first courts. The APPT Grand Slam in Karachi begins at the end of the month.
Transatlantic Showdown: Team USA beat Great Britain in the first Anglo American Padel Cup, ushering in a new era of team padel competition.
More Pickleball on TV: ‘Pickleball TV’ has officially launched on YouTube TV, expanding the sport’s reach by providing fans with live matches, highlights, and original programming.
Pickleball Phenom: 18-year-old Anna Leigh Waters secured her record-extending 36th Triple Crown on the PPA Tour, winning Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles titles in Virginia Beach.
Our October 7th Newsletter Poll Results: 51% of respondents backed Alex de Minaur to win the Shanghai Masters. Though, Valentin Vacherot had other plans.
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