Commonpoint Queens Tennis + Athletic Center to host 21st Annual Jana Hunsaker Memorial Wheelchair Tennis Tournament June 10th and 11th

The Commonpoint Queens Tennis and Athletic Center at Alley Pond Park is pleased to announce the 21st Annual Jana Hunsaker Memorial Wheelchair Tennis Tournament. The event will take place on June 10th and 11th, at 79-20 Winchester Boulevard, Queens Village, and will bring together wheelchair tennis players from around Queens to showcase their skills and love for the game.

Commonpoint Queens holds weekly classes for wheelchair tennis players on Sunday 2:30 – 4:00 pm for beginning students age 5 years to adults, thanks in part to a grant from Eastern USTA Tennis Association and USTA National Wheelchair Tennis.

The Jana Hunsaker Memorial Wheelchair Tennis Tournament is an opportunity to celebrate the life and legacy of Jana Hunsaker, a passionate tennis instructor and advocate for wheelchair tennis. Hunsaker was instrumental in starting the wheelchair tennis program at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, and her legacy lives on through this tournament.

Angelo Cardinale says, “Wheelchair tennis has changed my life in many different ways.  I’ve learned so much about camaraderie and being with others and sharing their feelings and learning about human kindness.  For me, it all started with Jana when I started to play 27 years ago. Jana was so influential and so dedicated to getting the players to do the best they can.  I’m grateful her legacy continues through the hard work of John Hamre (President of the Wheelchair Sports Federation) and Aki Wolfson (Tennis Director at the Commonpoint Queens Tennis and Athletic Center).  Aki continued with the program and took it to the next level and it became one of the highest programs ran in the United States with the assistance of John, who has increased the awareness of so many disabled communities and enhanced the opportunity to make everyone’s life more enriched.”

Wheelchair tennis follows the same rules as able-bodied tennis, with the only difference being that wheelchair players are allowed two bounces of the ball instead of one. This modification ensures that all players, regardless of their physical abilities, can compete on a level playing field and showcase their skills.

The event promises to be a weekend of exciting and competitive tennis matches, bringing together players and spectators alike in the spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship. The Jana Hunsaker Memorial Wheelchair Tennis Tournament is a testament to the power of sports to unite people of all abilities and backgrounds.

For more information on the Annual Jana Hunsaker Memorial Wheelchair Tennis Tournament, please contact Aki Wolfson at (718) 269-7262 or awolfson@commonpointqueens.org. We look forward to seeing you there!

Commonpoint Queens’ programs are barrier-free, dignified spaces for people of all ages and all ability levels. For more information about Commonpoint Queens and our programs, visit our website at CommonpointQueens.org.

If you would like to make a donation in support of Commonpoint Queens, please visit www.commonpointqueens.org/donate or contact Judy at jvladimir@commonpointqueens.org