Martin McElhatton OBE, WheelPower’s Chief Executive has been honoured with induction into the World Tennis Wheelchair Hall of Champions, recognised during the British inductions celebrated at the Lexus Eastbourne Open on 25 June as part of the sport’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
The World Tennis Wheelchair Hall of Champions has been created to recognise players, coaches and contributors who have played a pivotal role in the growth and development of the sport globally over five decades.
Martin’s contribution to wheelchair tennis spans more than four decades and reflects a lifetime of service to the sport at every level. First introduced to wheelchair tennis during the 1984 Paralympic Games at Stoke Mandeville, he quickly became one of the early pioneers of the game in Great Britain, helping to establish and grow the sport from its formative years.
Over the course of his career, Martin has fulfilled almost every possible role within wheelchair tennis – as a player, coach, administrator and international leader. His influence has been particularly significant through his leadership as Chairman of the National Wheelchair Tennis Association of Great Britain, a position he held for more than 35 years, during which he oversaw the development of the sport from a fledgling activity into a globally recognised, high‑performance Paralympic discipline.
Internationally, Martin played a central role in shaping the governance and growth of wheelchair tennis. As President of the International Wheelchair Tennis Federation and Association from 1996 to 2013, he led the sport through a transformative period, culminating in its full integration into the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the dissolution of the separate international wheelchair tennis body. This integration reflected a wider shift in the sport’s evolution, with wheelchair tennis becoming fully embedded within the structures of global tennis governance.
Martin’s leadership during this period helped drive the global expansion of wheelchair tennis, supporting the development of international competition structures, increasing participation across new countries, and strengthening the sport’s presence within the Paralympic movement. His work contributed to the growth of a sport that now features on the world’s biggest stages, including all four Grand Slams and the Paralympic Games.
In recognition of his outstanding service to disability sport, including his significant contribution to wheelchair tennis, Martin was awarded an OBE in the 2020 New Year Honours.
Speaking on his induction, Martin said:
“I feel incredibly honoured and proud to be inducted into the World Tennis Wheelchair Hall of Champions. To be recognised alongside so many individuals who have contributed to the growth and development of the sport internationally over the past 50 years is very special.
When I first got involved in wheelchair tennis in 1984, none of us could have imagined how far the sport would come. It has been a privilege to be part of that journey and to see the impact the sport continues to have on so many lives around the world.”
Martin’s induction is a fitting recognition of a lifetime dedicated to the advancement of wheelchair tennis — both in Great Britain and across the world — and his legacy as one of the sport’s most influential figures.
Photographs by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images for LTA
