Making History at the Orange Bowl

Competing at the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Junior Masters at the Orange Bowl in Florida was, for Jin Woodman, the second-biggest moment of his season.

The Orange Bowl carries huge weight in tennis history, having hosted some of the sport's biggest names over the years, including Roger Federer, Andy Roddick and Coco Gauff. But in 2025, it opened its doors to wheelchair tennis for the first time — and Jin was there representing Australia.

A new chapter for wheelchair tennis

The ITF Wheelchair Tennis Junior Masters is the season-ending event for the best junior wheelchair tennis players in the world. Competing there was already a significant achievement for Jin, but having the tournament held at the Orange Bowl made it even more meaningful. The venue's reputation had always been tied to able-bodied tennis, so seeing wheelchair tennis become part of that history was a milestone not just for Jin, but for the sport as a whole.

Having wheelchair players compete at an event with such a strong legacy helps show the next generation what's possible and gives the sport another platform to grow from. Jin was proud to be one of the players representing his country at the first-ever wheelchair Orange Bowl.

A season of change

By the time Jin arrived in Florida, 2025 had already been a huge year. He'd spent far more time competing in senior tournaments, testing himself against experienced players and climbing the world rankings, and had added four more singles titles to his career total, taking him to 11.

That shift toward senior tennis meant he'd played less junior tennis over the year, so returning to a junior event stacked with the best young players in the world presented a different kind of challenge — one that called for his best tennis and came with a mix of excitement and nerves. The goal was straightforward: take each match one at a time, compete as hard as possible, and give himself a shot at the final to finish 2025 on a high.

Representing Australia

Competing internationally and wearing the green and gold has always meant a great deal to Jin. At the Junior Masters, players from around the world came together to contest one of the biggest prizes on the junior wheelchair tennis calendar — and for Jin, stepping onto court there was about more than personal results. It was about representing where he's come from and everyone back home following his journey.

More than just tennis

Being part of the first wheelchair event at the Orange Bowl also pointed to what the sport can become. The Junior Masters has long been a stepping stone for players who went on to become stars of wheelchair tennis, including Alfie Hewett, Tokito Oda, Diede de Groot and Niels Vink. Having wheelchair tennis included alongside the wider Orange Bowl competition gives the next generation another stage to aspire to — and years from now, the 2025 event may well be remembered as the beginning of something much bigger.

Seeing the game differently

One question Jin is often asked is what makes wheelchair tennis different from able-bodied tennis. His answer is simple: it isn't a completely different game — the players just have wheelchairs where others have feet. At its heart, it's still tennis: the same competitiveness, the same pressure, the same excitement in a big point. But wheelchair tennis brings its own challenges, skills and characters too, and that's part of what makes it such a compelling sport. Events like the Orange Bowl help more people discover that.

Looking back on 2025

The Orange Bowl was a fitting way to close out an outstanding year for Jin — one shaped by lessons learned against senior players, more titles won, a rise up the rankings, and experience gained on some of the biggest stages in wheelchair tennis.

But being part of the first wheelchair Orange Bowl was about more than rankings or results. It was about being part of the continued growth of the sport. Jin represented Australia, competed alongside some of the best young wheelchair players in the world, and helped write a new chapter at one of tennis's most storied junior events.

Hopefully, it's just the start — and when the next generation of wheelchair players arrives at the Orange Bowl, they won't see it as something new. They'll see it as simply another place where wheelchair tennis belongs.