Esther Vergeer Wins Her 400th Consecutive Wheelchair Tennis Match
November 22, 2010 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Esther Vergeer extended her incredible winning streak by winning her 400th consecutive wheelchair tennis singles match on Saturday during the NEC Masters in Amsterdam. The 29-year-old Vergeer of the Netherlands is also undefeated at the NEC Masters since her debut in 1998 and came within two points of defeat last year when facing Korie Homan at the NEC Masters.
In 1990, after undergoing surgery for a spinal defect and brain hemorrhage, Vergeer became paralyzed from the waist down. Making the most of her situation, Vergeer has since become one of the most successful wheelchair tennis players in history, first reaching world number one in 1999. She has not lost one singles wheelchair tennis match since January 2003 and her current 400-match winning streak is the most successful run in tennis ever. The five-time Paralympic champion (three singles and two doubles) and five-time U.S. Open champion has also won 102 consecutive wheelchair tennis tournaments and ten consecutive World Team Cup Championships titles from 2000-2009.
Off the court, Vergeer spends time with her foundation, The Esther Vergeer Foundation, to promote and organize wheelchair sports for children with disabilities. She was recognized during this year’s U.S. Open Opening Night, honoring athletes who dream, succeed and inspire.
Esther’s overall career singles record is an amazing 609-25. This year, she is 10-0, and is ranked number one in the world in singles and fourth in doubles. Other career highlights include: 102 straight tournaments; 12 NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters singles titles; eight NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters doubles titles; 10 ITF World Champion titles, five Paralympic gold medals (three singles and two doubles) and five U.S. Open singles titles.
