Kendra Herber climbs to world No. 1 in para tennis in stunning first year originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Kendra Herber has reached the top of the global rankings in para standing tennis an impressively short amount of time. The latest International Para Standing Tennis rankings show Herber as the world No. 1 player in the women’s PST2 category. 

She shared the milestone publicly in a recent Instagram post. Herber is also ranked No. 16 overall in the men’s PST2 standings. All athletes are combined in the men’s list, women are ranked separately.

https://www.kendraherber.com/

The achievement comes less than a year after Herber, 40, transitioned into competitive para standing tennis. Before making the switch, she competed at the highest levels of paratriathlon, where she was a frequent presence on World Cup podiums. As a longtime endurance athlete, it was certainly demanding to shift over to a technical racket sport, but Herber adapted quickly.

She had limited competitive experience in para standing tennis, and in most cases athletes who move over to the sport take years to progress. The PST2 classification includes players who have impairments that affect their lower limb function, but they are able to still play while standing. There’s a deep and competitive international field.

The sport continues to expand globally and features many sanctioned events with several different categories. While the sport is not currently part of the Paralympic Games program, its competitive structure is still growing, and athletes all over the world have the opportunity to compete internationally. Herber’s rise to No. 1 shows just how much the sport has gained visibility and improved in terms of the level of performance among competitors.

When she's not on the court Herber speaks to audiences and is a writer as well as a model. She uses her platform to advocate for greater visibility for all disabled athletes and anyone with disabilities in general. She consistently talks about how important it is to create more sustainable ways for athletes with disabilities to succeed in sports.

Herber also partners with RITFIT through the brand’s Disability Program, serving as an athlete and spokesperson. The program offers free training equipment to athletes with disabilities and focuses on removing barriers to consistent training.

Herber’s new number one ranking is more than just a single update. It highlights how preparation, experience, and access can speed up progress as adaptive sports evolve on the global stage.

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