New York, September 1, 2026 – Owen Lewis and Catherine Sneddon were honoured at the International Tennis Writers’ Association Reception, which took place at Moss NY on Friday evening.

The annual cocktail evening, which was co-sponsored by the ATP, WTA, World Tennis and Open Tennis Magazine, attracted people from across the tennis world, including tournament and Tour officials, broadcasters, journalists and agents.

View photo gallery by Mike Frey.

Lewis, a 24-year-old freelance writer from the United States, received the Tom Perrotta Prize, awarded for excellence in tennis journalism to someone under the age of 35.

Lewis’s entry was chosen from a panel of five leading tennis journalists, who judged the entries blind. The prize, which was inaugurated in 2022, is given in memory of the highly respected American writer Tom Perrotta, who died from a brain tumour at the age of 44 in 2021.

“I’m so appreciative to Tom Perrotta’s family, ITWA and everybody else who helped put on the event, Lewis said. “I’m hugely honoured and had an incredible time talking to so many colleagues.”

Sneddon received the Bud Collins Award, given to someone who works in tennis but who has gone above and beyond her role to help the media do their jobs. Nominees are voted for by the ITWA membership.

“I feel very honoured to receive the esteemed Bud Collins Media Services Award from the members of ITWA this year,” Sneddon said. “To be acknowledged in this way for the years I have spent with the WTA building successful relationships with all the media is special and much appreciated.”

Coco Gauff, Daniil Medvedev named ITWA ambassadors

ITWA also announced two other prizes at the US Open: Coco Gauff and Daniil Medvedev were selected as the 2026 ITWA Player Ambassadors, recognising their willingness to speak to the media openly and honestly, even after defeats.

Gauff won the women’s award for the second year in a row while Medvedev received the men’s prize for the first time. Both players were presented with their prizes at the US Open. “At least I win one trophy,” quipped Medvedev.