About Andrew

Wheelchair tennis player hitting forehand on a clay court, wearing a blue shirt, white cap, and using a yellow tennis racket; BMW and Lotto Bayern branding in the background.

Andrew Penney is a professional wheelchair tennis player from Hampshire, UK, currently ranked in the top 30 worldwide in both singles and doubles. His journey in the sport is one of resilience, determination, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Having overcome significant physical and mental challenges, Andrew has risen through the ranks of international wheelchair tennis, competing on some of the biggest stages. With a passion for the game and an unwavering drive, he continues to push his limits, with his sights set on the LA2028 Paralympic Games and Grand Slam success.

ABOUT


Before his illness, Andrew played multiple sports, including county-level tennis. In 2018, a minor toenail operation left him unable to walk, in extreme pain, and was later diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and Allodynia. His condition led to severe mental health struggles and complete memory loss, requiring him to relearn basic skills like speaking, reading, and writing.

Seeking an accessible sport, Andrew discovered wheelchair tennis at Portsmouth Tennis Centre and quickly progressed. By late 2019, he reached the junior singles and doubles finals at the National Finals and played his first international tournament in early 2020. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, he trained hard, making his overseas junior ITF debut in 2021 and entering Men’s ITF events later that year.

    • Participated at the Bolton Indoor ITF 3 and ITF2

    • Participated at the ABN AMRO Wheelchair Open, Rotterdam

    • Reached the Doubles semi finals at the Bolton Indoor ITF2, UK, with Casey Ratzlaff (USA)

    • Won the Singles Consolation at the Cajun Classic, beating two top 40 ranked played.

    • Participated in the Allianz Paratrophy, Munich

    • Repeated his Singles and Doubles triumphs at the Bulle Indoors, Switzerland

    • Reached the Singles semi finals at the Rothesay International, UK, going close with the world #3

    • Won the Singles and Doubles titles at the Genoa Cup, Italy, achieving a career best win.

    • Won his first ITF3 Singles & Doubles titles at the JTCC Championships, USA

    • Reached the Doubles final at the ITF3 Birmingham Classic, Canada, losing out in a match tiebreak

    • Won the Sibenik Open, Croatia Singles & Doubles titles

    • Reached back-to-back Doubles finals at the ITF3’s in Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    • Participated in the NEC Doubles Masters in Arnhem, Netherlands

    • Maiden ITF Singles Title at the Bulle Indoors, Switzerland

    • Also won the doubles event alongside Yoann Quilliou (FRA)

    • Won the Doubles Title at the Sirus Open with Anto Joskic (CRO)

    • Participated at the British Grass Court Wheelchair Tournament at the Queen’s Club, London

    • Won the Doubles Title the Birrhard Open, Switzerland, with Ivan Kindt (BEL)

    • Reached the Singles final at both the X Open Baia de Setbal and CTS 75th Anniversary Wheelchair International Open, Portugal

    • Won the Doubles Title at the CTS 75th Anniversary Wheelchair International Open, Portugal with partner Giorgos Lazaridis (GRE)

    • Won the Singles Title at the Nottingham Futures, UK

    • Won the Doubles Titles at the Nottingham Futures, UK, with Mark Langeveld (GBR)

    • Won the Singles and Doubles Titles at the Wheelchair Czech Open, with partner Yoann Quilliou (FRA)

    • Reached the Singles final at the Vinius Open 2023

    • Won the Doubles Title with Jakub Dominic Bukala (POL) at the Plock Cup III, Poland

    • Reached the Singles final at the Plock Cup IV, Poland

    • Won the Doubles Title at the International Wheelchair Club Tennis Porto, Portugal, with Joshua Johns (GBR)

    • Won the Singles Consolation at the Open Paratennis du Loiret, France

    • Reached the Singles semi-finals and Doubles final at the Cruyff Foundation Junior Masters, France, with Maximilian Taucher (AUT)

    • Won the Second Draw Singles and Doubles Titles at the Bolton Indoor ITF3, UK with Mark Langeveld (GBR)

    • Won the Second Draw Singles Title at the Bolton Indoor ITF2, UK

    • Won the Junior Singles and Doubles Titles at the Bolton Indoor Junior Wheelchair Tournament, UK, with Xavier Donker (NED)

    • Won the ITF Juniors Doorn, Netherlands Doubles Title with Maximillian Taucher (AUT)

    • Won the Single and Doubles Titles at the Knokke Route Junior Roller Open 2022 with Maximillian Taucher (AUT)

    • Narrowly lost out in the final at the BNP Paribas World Team Cup Junior Event, Portugal

    • Reached the Singles semi-finals and Doubles final at the Camozzi Open, Italy, with partner Kevin Simpson (GBR)

    • Reached the Doubles final at the British Grass Court Wheelchair Tennis Tournament at the Queen’s Club, London with Joachim Gerard (BEL)

    • Reached the Doubles final at the Zagreb Open, Croatia, with partner Marco Pincella (ITA)

    • Reached the Singles semi-finals and Doubles final at the Nottingham Futures, UK, with Mark Langeveld (GBR)

    • Won the Singles and Doubles Title at the British Open Junior Event, UK, with Joshua Johns (GBR)

    • Won the Consolation Singles at the s’Versicherung Austrian Open ITF2, Austria

    • Won the Doubles Title with Dahnon Ward (GBR) at the s’Versicherung Austrian Open ITF2, Austria

    • Participated in the Inaugural US Open Junior event

    • Reached the Singles final at the Abingdon Wheelchair Tennis Tournament, UK

    • Won the Doubles Title with Dahnon Ward (GBR) at the Abingdon Weelchair Tennis Tournament, UK

  • In 2021, Andrew participated in a number of national tournaments. He won a total of nine titles, including winning the end of year National Finals Singles event.

    Andrew also played his first overseas ITF competition at the Amjoy Cup, Netherlands in July where he reached the Doubles final. He also enjoyed success at the British Open Junior event, where he reached the Singles semi-final and the Doubles final.

    Towards the end of the year, Andrew played in two further ITF Junior events; in Knokke, Belgium, he reached the Doubles final, and in Lille, France, he came runner-up in the Singles, and won the Doubles, alongside partner Maximillian Taucher (AUT). Andrew participated in his first Men’s ITF tournament in Paris, France, where he played against a world top #30 ranked player and reached the quarter finals of the Doubles event, with partner Nicolas Vanlerberghe (FRA).

    • Won his first ITF2 Doubles title at the s’ Versicherung Austrian Open, with first time partner Dahnon Ward (GBR)

    • Won his first ITF3 Singles & Doubles Titles at the JTCC Championships, USA

    • Reached the Doubles final of the British Grass Court ITF2 at The Queen’s Club, UK, alongside partner Joachim Gerard (BEL)

    • Top #30 in the ITF Men’s Wheelchair Singles and Doubles Rankings

    • Won his First ITF Men’s Main Draw Singles Title at the 26E Tournoi Bulle Indoors

    • Won his first ITF Junior singles title in Bolton, UK in 2022

    • Played in the inaugural Junior Wheelchair Tournament at the US Open

    • Represented Great Britain at the World Team Cup in 2022, narrowly losing out in the final

    • Two Time National Finals Singles Champion

    • National Finals Doubles Champion

TENNIS CAREER


The Journey So Far…


Tried Wheelchair Tennis for the First Time in Portsmouth, UK 2019

Person in a wheelchair playing tennis indoors, wearing sports attire and holding a tennis racket.

2020 First ITF Junior Competition

Person in a wheelchair playing tennis on a clay court, holding a tennis racket, wearing athletic clothing and a cap.

Young athlete in a wheelchair holding a tennis racket, wearing a navy blue shirt and cap, with tennis balls attached to the wheelchair wheels.

First ITF Mens Competition 2021

2022 First ITF2 Doubles Title

Two young men holding first place trophies, one sitting in a wheelchair and the other standing with a prosthetic leg, outdoors with a sunset in the background.

Participated in the Inaurgoral Junior US Open 2022

Wheelchair tennis player in action, hitting a ball with a racket on a tennis court, wearing a red shirt and black cap.

2023 First ITF Men’s Singles Title

Person in a wheelchair holding a trophy, wearing a white shirt and cap, in front of a blue background with "Boissons Corbo SA" written on it.

First ITF3 Singles Title 2024

A wheelchair tennis player holding a plaque for winning the 2024 Men's Open Singles Champion at the ITF JTCC Wheelchair Championships. He is seated in a wheelchair on a tennis court with various flags in the background.

2024 Career High ITF Men’s Singles Ranking #26

First ITF Doubles Masters 2024