WATCH: Today show features wheelchair champ Joanna Nieh

By Jonathan Scott Oct 20, 2019
Style Points

Adrian Mannarino has a clothing sponsor! Lefty to debut with Celio at Mutua Madrid Open

By Baseline Staff Apr 25, 2024
Your Game

Geared Up: Rafael Nadal plays out his illustrious career with Babolat and Nike

By Baseline Staff Apr 25, 2024
Pop Culture

Review: Plenty to be excited about in TopSpin 2K25, which successfully recreates the joy (and frustration) of tennis

By Stephanie Livaudais and Spencer Thordarson Apr 24, 2024
Pop Culture

Coco Gauff dishes on 'embracing adulthood' in TIME magazine's May cover story

By Baseline Staff Apr 24, 2024
Pick of the Day

Roberto Carballes Baena vs. Dominik Koepfer, Madrid

By Zachary Cohen Apr 24, 2024
Line Calls

ATP Mutua Madrid Open Betting Preview

By Baseline Staff Apr 24, 2024
Social

It's a girl! Belinda Bencic welcomes her first child, a daughter named Bella

By Baseline Staff Apr 24, 2024
Pop Culture

Zendaya, Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist on the steamy love triangle of Challengers

By Associated Press Apr 23, 2024
Line Calls

WTA Mutua Madrid Open Betting Preview

By Baseline Staff Apr 23, 2024

WATCH: Today show features wheelchair champ Joanna Nieh

ByJonathan Scott

Published Oct 20, 2019

NBC's third hour of the Today show came up aces recently in featuring 17-year-old wheelchair tennis champ Joanna Nieh.

Advertising

Nieh has spina bifida, a condition caused by the spine and spinal cord not fusing correctly. She and her parents sought to find an outlet for her to do—and excel at—something just as other kids can.

She tried wheelchair basketball and other sports as well. It was tennis that stayed with her.

Nieh's parents, Jason and Belinda, get a bit emotional in talking with (tennis-playing) reporter Dylan Dreyer about their daughter's condition and subsequent opportunities on tennis courts worldwide. Their offspring has become an international tournament champion in her age division.

"I think the sport has been really wonderful for Joanna, and it could be wonderful for lots of girls with disabilities," says Belinda Nieh, "because they can then say, 'Look what my body can do.'"