Dana Mathewson says historic Miami Open invitational is “the next chapter for wheelchair tennis”

MIAMI, Fla.—When we last caught up with top-ranked American wheelchair tennis star Dana Mathewson, the 33-year-old was gearing for the US Open and vowing to use her platform to raise her sport’s profile.

A whirlwind six months later—amid winning a pair of gold medals for Team USA at the Parapan American Games and getting married to Dristin Hughes after a year and a half of engagement—her mission is still the same, even if the venue is brand new.

Mathewson is one of a small but elite group of eight wheelchair tennis players—four men and four women—who are competing at the Miami Open Wheelchair Invitational. Her opening match against Colombia’s Angelica Bernal marked the first time that a wheelchair competition has been featured at an ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 event.

“I think this is just the start of the many, many times you’ll see wheelchair tennis at these big events,” Mathewson told Tennis.com at a pre-tournament event by sponsor Maestro Dobel Tequila.

“I think a lot of people still don't recognize that wheelchair tennis is a pro circuit and we have our own tour that we're traveling on alongside the pros that you see on your TV screen. It’s really cool to finally be recognized as one and the same as them.”

Wheelchair tennis has been a Paralympic sport since the 1992 Games in Barcelona, and has featured at all four Grand Slams since 2007. And now that the upcoming tennis calendar is set to feature extended 1000-level events taking place over two weeks, it looks increasingly likely that we’ll start seeing it incorporated along with more tennis formats and competitions too.

The Sunshine Swing has served as a preview of what fans can expect: Last week the BNP Paribas Open unveiled its first mixed doubles invitational event, and this week Miami tennis fans can expect to see elite wheelchair tennis and pickleball athletes, too.

According to Mathewson, these tournaments have served as a blueprint that other 1000-level events can learn from, with some already taking note.

“This is just the next chapter for wheelchair tennis,” she said. “I think we've done a lot of groundwork and proving how professional we are and how high the level of tennis is nowadays.

“I think we belong at these events, and it's so exciting that all the tournaments are recognizing that and incorporating us… Like, yes, we move differently on the court and maybe we don’t hit the forehand quite as hard as (Juan Martin) Del Potro or someone like that—but who does?!

“But it’s really cool that people are recognizing that we train the same, we work just as hard, and deserve to be at these events just as much.”

The Miami invitational features some of the best Paralympic tennis players in the world, headlined by the Netherlands’ Diede de Groot, a 39-time major winner, and Great Britain’s Alfie Hewett, who owns 27 Grand Slam titles. Mathewson and De Groot are joined by Johana Bernal and Maylee Phelps in the women's field, while Gordon Reid and Gustavo Fernandez feature on the men's side alongside Japan’s Shingo Kunieda.

Kunieda, who retired from the sport last year and now lives in Orlando, also serves as the tournament director of the wheelchair event. His resume features four Paralympic gold medals and 28 major singles titles—and now, he’s become somewhat of a mentor for Mathewson, who also trains in Orlando.

“I've gotten to train with him quite a few different times and he's taught me a lot already just about like, mentally like what he thinks when he's playing points or even just like watching him on court and the way that he prepares for things,” she says. “I’m like a little sponge.”

After a red-hot start to the season that saw her lift a trophy and reach two more finals in singles in four weeks, Mathewson made a stop at home—where she and Kunieda linked up to practice their trick serves. Now, she’s down in South Florida taking in the Hard Rock Stadium atmosphere for the first time.

“I’m happy that as an American and as a Florida girl that this is happening here in Miami!” she gushed. “The courts here are the prettiest courts that I’ve ever played on. Everything here has been top notch, and the people are so nice.

“I think everyone's really excited that we're here too and we can feel that. That just makes us more excited to showcase our best tennis, hopefully, and be invited again and again to all these bigger tournaments.”

Mathewson has already secured one massive invite for this summer: She’s set to represent Team USA for the third time at the Paralympics, which will take place just over two weeks after the 2024 Paris Games. The 2022 Wimbledon doubles champ clinched her spot in Paris by virtue of her double gold sweep at the Parapan American Games in Santiago last November—where she also served as Team USA’s flag bearer after being voted by her peers.

“Being able to have the flag, leading the team during the Opening Ceremony and hearing everyone chanting ‘USA, USA’... it was honestly a goosebumps, ‘pinch me’ experience. I’ll never forget it.”

Mathewson closed out her 2023 season on a high, with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 victory in the gold medal singles final against Bernal. The pair met again in the doubles final, where Mathewson partnered with Phelps to a 3-6, 6-2, 10-8 victory over Bernal and Johana Martinez.

But the American has vowed to not rest on her laurels. Her new goal is to be seeded at the Games, which means she’ll have to make sure her ranking stays inside the Top 8.

“That’s right where I’m at now, but you know how tennis is. You have to defend points and anything can happen from now until then,” Mathewson said. “So that's my new target: To stay in the Top 8 range, Top 5 if I can make it… and maybe win a Grand Slam in between now and then! We’ll see what’s going to happen.”

World No. 1 De Groot and 50-time major champ Kunieda were the champions in the inaugural Miami wheelchair singles event.