So far, March has been the busiest month of the year for Canada’s wheelchair tennis players. The month kicked off with the nation’s return to team competition before more Canucks got their regular seasons going on the ITF Tour.
Here is the monthly wheelchair tennis update.
Canadian No. 1 Thomas Venos got his season underway in March. First off, he represented Canada at the BNP Paribas World Team Cup Americas Qualification, going 3-1 in singles but 1-3 in doubles, including a decisive straight-set loss in the semifinals against Colombia.
The following week, Venos contested his first regular ITF Tour event of the season in Rome, Georgia. He lost in the first round to Alexander Cataldo in straight sets.
Shawn Courchesne, who kicked off his season in February, played a similar schedule to Venos over the last four weeks. The Bramptonian anchored Canada’s quad team at the World Team Cup qualifying, going 3-1 in singles and 2-2 in doubles. The quad team was also eliminated in the semifinals. In Rome, Courchesne was beaten by quad world No. 7 Ymanitu Silva in the first round.
Read also: Tennis Quirks and Superstitions That Players May Bring to the NBO
Venos and Courchesne are back in action this week at the Cajun Classic in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Anne-Marie Dolinar is joining them, kicking off her 2026 season.
Team Canada returned to action in 2026 at the World Team Cup Americas Qualification at the beginning of March, having not competed in the 2025 edition of the wheelchair team event.
CLICK HERE for more about the World Team Cup Americas Qualification.
Venos Earns BC Honours
Earlier this month, Thomas Venos was named British Columbia’s Male Athlete with a Disability of the Year. The New Westminster, BC-native won three ITF titles in 2025, one singles and two doubles, as well as claiming the trophy at the inaugural National Bank Open wheelchair event.
Venos himself was not on hand to accept the award in person as he was representing his country at the World Team Cup at the time of the ceremony. His parents, Rosemary and Jeff Venos, accepted the award on his behalf.
Photo : Jay Shaw/@sportbc
Feature Photo : Geoff Robins
