NATHAN MELNYK OF CENTERPORT, N.Y., ONE OF 34 YOUNG WHEELCHAIR TENNIS PLAYERS THAT PARTICIPATED IN 2015 USTA/ITF INTERNATIONAL

Nathan Melnyk of Centerport, N.Y., was one of 34 young wheelchair athletes that recently participated in the 2015 USTA/ITF International Junior Wheelchair Tennis Camp in Mission Viejo, Calif.

The camp took place at Marguerite Tennis Pavilion and was for youth who live with a permanent disabling condition and use a wheelchair when playing sports, including tennis.

This year’s camp included players from eight different states and six different countries (Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States). The camp was geared towards fun and camaraderie, while developing tennis skills in these young athletes.

Each day of camp consisted of morning wheelchair tennis clinics and in-depth tennis instruction. Afternoon sessions included additional instruction, as well as an ITF-ranking wheelchair tennis tournament. Campers received world-class instruction from Dan James, the USTA’s National Head Coach and National Manager of Wheelchair Tennis, Jason Harnett, a USTA Wheelchair Tennis Assistant National Head Coach, and other esteemed wheelchair tennis coaches.

The clinic was sponsored by the USTA, the ITF, the Johan Cruyff Foundation, and the City of Mission Viejo, site of the camp.