Rutherford County's Conner Stroud headed to US Open

Stroud on the court during a match. Photo Contributed.

Rutherford County's tennis phenomenon Conner Stroud, 25, is returning to the US Open next week competing in the Men's Wheelchair Singles first round slated for September 3. He will play doubles on September 2. The matches will be televised on ESPN Plus giving hometown fans an opportunity to watch the matches.

He is the son and Dewey and Rita Stroud of Rutherfordton and this is his second trip to the US Open, the first in 2023.

Stroud, who is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy's high school and is a student at UNC-G where he is studying finance. He has one more semester to complete the online studies.

Conner said on Sunday night, "Excited and grateful for the opportunity to compete in the US Open this year in the wheelchair division. Can't wait to battle it out on one of the biggest stages in tennis. Let's go!"

Conner has reached many goals in wheelchair tennis. He competed in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games which, also with the US Open, are the pinnacle of tennis.

Conner, 25, was born with a birth defect called Bilateral Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency that left him without hips, ankles, femurs or knees, but that did not deter his determination to play tennis, at his parents' Peach Tree Racquet Club in Forest City where he grew up watching them and other pros play.

On his "stubbies" Conner won numerous tournaments competing against his peers and later transitioned to wheelchair tennis as he got older. It became harder to compete against his peers who could play the ball better and move faster.

Conner was filmed at the Racquet Ball Club on Long Branch Road in Forest City by USA Tennis Channel during the days of playing on his "stubbies" because that method of playing tennis was not something people saw often.

Conner is heading to New York and is responsible for all travel expenses, since he is outside of the top 14 in the world. Stroud's parents, Dewey and Rita will be among those cheering him on in the stands.

Anyone wishing to support Conner's trip to the US Open can visit connerstroudtennis.com.