Fifty years ago, Brad Parks invented wheelchair tennis, a sport that has since become a fixture at Grand Slams and the Paralympics. Parks, paralyzed in a skiing accident, was inspired to adapt tennis after watching his family play. He partnered with physiotherapist Jeff Minnebraker, and together they experimented with rules, eventually settling on the core difference: the ball could bounce twice. The first wheelchair tennis event was held in Irvine, California in 1977, with Parks winning.

The early days presented challenges, including skepticism from governing bodies and the use of rudimentary hospital wheelchairs. Parks and Minnebraker also developed lighter, more agile sports wheelchairs, significantly improving mobility and play. Parks tirelessly promoted the sport through demonstrations and by writing a book, 'Tennis In A Wheelchair'.

By 1980, Parks helped establish the National Foundation of Wheelchair Tennis and a 10-tournament circuit. The sport gained further visibility when Parks played doubles with Hollywood actor Gene Wilder. The sport's growth culminated in 1985 when Parks witnessed a tournament with 12 courts filled with players dressed like professional tennis players, solidifying his belief that wheelchair tennis was established and here to stay.