UH Adaptive Athletics Hosts 2020 Cougar Open

Annual Wheelchair Tennis Tournament is Feb. 21-23 at Memorial Park

2019 wheelchair tournament
Player Ricardo Cedillo receives a ball from a ball runner as he readies his serve during the 2019 Cougar Open.

Adaptive Athletics at the University of Houston is hosting its fifth Cougar Open Wheelchair Tennis Tournament Friday, Feb. 21- Sunday, Feb. 23 at the Memorial Park Tennis Center, 1500 W. Memorial Loop Drive, Houston, TX 77007.

This year, 88 players from 15 countries, including former Paralympic medalists, will compete in professional and recreational divisions for a $14,000 prize purse. This is the Cougar Open’s first international wheelchair tennis tournament in association with the International Tennis Federation, part of the UNIQLO tour and the United States Tennis Association (USTA). 

“Our first ITF 3 series has a star-studded international lineup and competition will be fierce. Many of these players are hoping this event helps them qualify for the 2020 Paralympics,” said Michael Cottingham, director of Adaptive Athletics at UH.

The Cougar Open, sanctioned by the USTA, is the largest wheelchair tennis tournament in Texas and the sixth largest in the country.

Adaptive Athletics at UH is a research lab, academic course and student organization that provides sports programming for athletes with disabilities. Housed in the Department of Health and Human Performance in the UH College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Adaptive Athletics hosts elite and developmental programming and competitions throughout the year.

WHAT: 2020 Cougar Open Wheelchair Tennis Tournament

WHO: Adaptive Athletics at the University of Houston

WHEN: Friday-Sunday, Feb. 21 – 23; Matches will take place Friday 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.­– 5 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.  Event is free and open to the public.

WHERE: Memorial Park Tennis Center, 1500 E. Memorial Loop, Houston, TX 77007

ONSITE CONTACT: Michael Cottingham, 832-581-8247 or mcottingham@uh.edu