On Tuesday, Rob Shaw, one of the most accomplished wheelchair tennis players in Canadian history, announced he will retire from the sport at this year’s Australian Open. After a career marked by extraordinary milestones – including two Paralympic Games, gold and silver medals at the Para Pan American Games, and 54 ITF titles – Shaw will transition into a new chapter by joining Tennis Canada part-time as Wheelchair Tennis High Performance Consultant, while working full-time at Spinal Cord Injury BC.
“As I say goodbye to life as a professional tennis player, I am incredibly proud of what I achieved and would like to thank everyone who supported me along this journey – without you, none of this would have been possible,” said Shaw. “Tennis has given me so much and shaped me into who I am today, both on and off the court, but I am excited and ready to embrace this new life as a full-time member of SCI British Columbia, helping individuals dealing with injuries like mine, which has been a personal passion of mine since I began my graduate studies in 2014. I am also honoured to be able to join Tennis Canada in a part-time role, to give back to the sport I love and, hopefully, encourage more Canadians of all ages to take up wheelchair tennis.”
Shaw, 36, played most of his career in the quad division, which is designated for players with a permanent physical disability that results in significant functional loss of one or both upper extremities and affects at least three extremities. The North Bay native made his professional debut in 2013 at his home tournament, the Birmingham Wheelchair Tennis Classic, winning his first-ever match.
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In 2014, Shaw captured three professional titles, all in doubles alongside fellow Canadian Gary Luker, before claiming his first singles title in 2015. He currently has 54 ITF titles (25 in singles, 29 in doubles), the most combined titles of any Canadian, as well as 10 crowns at the Birmingham Nationals.
Shaw broke into the Top 8 for the first time in 2022, allowing him to qualify for his maiden Grand Slam event at the US Open, finishing as runner-up in doubles with American partner David Wagner. He added two more second-place finishes in doubles at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon in 2023, this time teaming up with Australia’s Heath Davidson.
During his career, Shaw enjoyed some of his greatest successes flying the Canadian flag, winning gold at the 2019 Para Pan American games and silver in 2023. He competed in two Paralympic Games, in Tokyo in 2020 as well as Paris in 2024, where he reached the quarter-finals in singles.
Heading into the 2026 Australian Open, Shaw’s career-best rankings stand at No. 6 in singles and No. 3 in doubles, both achieved during his excellent 2023 campaign. This will be his 11th Grand Slam appearance as he aims for one last triumph before retirement. Shaw’s final tournament will begin on January 27 and will be livestreamed on TSN+.
NEW ROLE WITHIN TENNIS CANADA’S HIGH PERFORMANCE TEAM
Shaw will join Tennis Canada on a part-time basis as Wheelchair Tennis High Performance Consultant. He will work with the High Performance team to support the planning and coaching of players part of the National High Performance Program (NHPP) and the National Development Program (NDP). Shaw is no stranger to the federation, serving on Tennis Canada’s Mental Health committee since its inception in 2024 and spending three years as an ambassador of the Mental Timeout initiative, which is dedicated to improving the well-being of all tennis players across the country.
“Rob Shaw’s impact on wheelchair tennis in Canada cannot be overstated, and we owe him a great deal for setting the standard for performance and professionalism in the sport,” said Guillaume Marx, Vice-President, High Performance.
“It’s very difficult to grow a sport without role models, and that’s exactly what Rob has given us over his career, playing and winning on the biggest stages. We have no doubt that Rob’s story, resilience, and exceptional talent have inspired many people to pick up wheelchair tennis, and we applaud him for all he has accomplished. On behalf of Tennis Canada, I would like to congratulate Rob on his retirement, and we look forward to welcoming him to our team. Beyond the courts, we wish him and his partner Tori all the best as they begin this new chapter together.”
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Outside of tennis, Shaw, who earned a PhD in Health and Exercise Sciences at the University of British Columbia, is preparing to embrace his new life as a full-time staff member of Spinal Cord Injury BC, where he will focus on researching, promoting, and enhancing peer support services for people with spinal cord injuries and related disabilities. In his current role, he’s responsible for supporting peer support program development across Canada by leading a national working group comprised of executive directors and employees belonging to provincial disability organizations.
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Photo: Martin Sidorjak
