A Special night at the Newcombe Medal

There are some moments in a tennis journey that stay with you for a long time. For Jin Woodman, winning the Most Outstanding Athlete with a Disability at the 2025 Newcombe Medal, Australian Tennis Awards, was one of them.

Receiving the award in Melbourne, surrounded by so many of the people who have contributed to Australian tennis, was an incredibly proud moment. At just 16, being recognised alongside some of Australia's best athletes was something Jin never expected when he first started playing wheelchair tennis.

A season that changed everything

The award came after a huge 12 months. Jin had already begun the transition from junior tennis into regular senior-level competition, with every tournament bringing new experiences and new challenges.

One of the biggest moments came at the 2024 US Open, where Jin made his Grand Slam debut in the junior wheelchair singles. Walking onto a Grand Slam court for the first time had been a long-held dream, and reaching the semi-finals made the experience even more special.

Not long after, he received a wildcard into the Australian Open wheelchair competition. At just 15, competing at his home Grand Slam against some of the best players in the world was a remarkable opportunity — and a clear sign of how quickly things were moving for him.

Representing Australia

Another highlight of the year was representing Australia at the World Team Cup in Turkey. Playing for his country carried a different kind of significance than an individual tournament — being part of a team brought with it a real sense of responsibility to everyone representing Australia alongside him. The team finished runners-up, a strong achievement and a valuable experience at international level.

Climbing the rankings

Jin's results over the season also drove him up the world rankings, reaching world No.1 in the juniors and a career-high world No.7 in the quad division. Beyond the numbers, those rankings reflect the hours spent training, travelling, recovering, learning from losses and working to improve every time he stepped on court — with Jin still only at the beginning of a career he has big ambitions for.

More than results

Part of what made the award particularly meaningful was that it wasn't just about performance on court. Jin has taken up opportunities to visit schools, speak to young people and get involved in community activities promoting inclusive sport, and sharing his experiences with young athletes with disabilities is something he values highly.

Growing up, seeing athletes who showed him what was possible made a real difference — and being able to do the same for someone else matters just as much to him.

Jin is also keen for wheelchair tennis to be seen as a sport in its own right: competitive, exciting, and open to anyone willing to give it a go.

A night I'll remember

Standing on stage at the Newcombe Medal and hearing his name called was a surreal moment for Jin, and one he credits to more than just his own effort. Recognition from Tennis Australia meant a great deal, but so did the support of family, coaches, school, teammates and everyone who has backed him throughout the year — a reminder that an award like this is never the result of one person alone.

At 16, Jin sees this moment as motivation rather than a finish line. There's a long way still to go, plenty more to learn, and hopefully many more big moments ahead. For now, though, winning the Most Outstanding Athlete with a Disability at the 2025 Newcombe Medal is one he'll always be proud of.