Esther Vergeer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Esther Vergeer

Full name	Esther Mary Vergeer
Country (sports)	Netherlands
Residence	Woerden, Netherlands
Born	(1981-07-18) 18 July 1981 (age 44) Woerden, Netherlands
Turned pro	1995
Retired	2013
Plays	Right handed
Int. Tennis HoF	2023 (member page)
Official website	www.esthervergeer.nl
Singles
Career record	700–25 (96.6%)
Career titles	169
Highest ranking	No. 1 (6 April 1999)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	W (2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012)
French Open	W (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
US Open	W (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011)
Other tournaments
Masters	W (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
Paralympic Games	Gold Medal (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012)
Doubles
Career record	441–35 (92.6%)
Career titles	136
Highest ranking	No. 1 (20 October 1998)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	W (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012)
French Open	W (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012)
Wimbledon	W (2009, 2010, 2011)
US Open	W (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011)
Other doubles tournaments
Masters Doubles	W (2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
Paralympic Games	Gold Medal (2000, 2004, 2012) Silver Medal (2008)
World Team Cup	Champion (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
Medal record Representing  Netherlands Women's wheelchair tennis Paralympic Games Gold 2000 Sydney Women's singles Gold 2000 Sydney Women's doubles Gold 2004 Athens Women's singles Gold 2004 Athens Women's doubles Gold 2008 Beijing Women's singles Silver 2008 Beijing Women's doubles Gold 2012 London Women's singles Gold 2012 London Women's doubles

Esther Mary Vergeer (born 18 July 1981) is a retired Dutch wheelchair tennis player. Many people consider her the most dominant player in the history of professional sports. For ten years in a row, she did not lose a single singles match.

Vergeer ended her career with an amazing winning streak of 470 matches. She was the world's number one player from 1999 until she retired in 2013. During her career, she won 43 major titles, known as Grand Slams, and seven gold medals at the Paralympic Games.

Early life and health challenges

When Esther Vergeer was six years old, she became very dizzy after a swimming lesson and fainted. At the hospital, doctors found she had fluid and bleeding in her brain. They put a special tube called a shunt in her brain to help drain the fluid.

A few years later, when she was eight, she started having bad headaches and pain. After a stroke, doctors found a problem with the blood vessels near her spinal cord. She had a long, nine-hour surgery on January 15, 1990. After the surgery, she was unable to move her legs.

During her recovery, she learned to play sports in a wheelchair, including volleyball, basketball, and tennis. She was so good at basketball that she joined the Dutch national team and helped them win the European championship in 1997. But soon, she would focus on tennis and become a legend.

An incredible tennis career

Vergeer started her professional tennis career in 1995. By 1999, she was ranked number one in the world. She won her first Paralympic gold medals in 2000 in both singles and doubles. This was just the beginning of her amazing success.

An unbeatable streak

From 2003 until she retired in 2013, Vergeer was undefeated in singles matches. She won 470 matches in a row over ten years. During this time, she won 120 tournaments and beat 73 different players.

One of her toughest matches was at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. Her opponent, Korie Homan, was just one point away from winning. But Vergeer fought back and won the gold medal, keeping her incredible winning streak alive.

Vergeer serves during a game at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.

Major tournament wins

Vergeer dominated the biggest tournaments in tennis. These are called Grand Slams and include the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.

• 2007: She won all the Grand Slam singles titles for the first time. During the French Open, she won her 250th singles match in a row.
• 2009: She won the Grand Slam again, meaning she won all the major singles titles in one year. She also won the Grand Slam in doubles with her partner, Korie Homan.
• 2011: She won the singles Grand Slam for a third time. She also won the doubles Grand Slam with her partner, Sharon Walraven.

Paralympic champion

Vergeer was a star at the Paralympic Games, which is the top competition for athletes with disabilities.

• Sydney 2000: Gold in singles and doubles.
• Athens 2004: Gold in singles and doubles.
• Beijing 2008: Gold in singles and silver in doubles.
• London 2012: Gold in singles and doubles. This made her the most successful wheelchair tennis player in Paralympic history.

Legacy and awards

Esther Vergeer retired from tennis in 2013, leaving behind a record that may never be broken. She won a total of 700 singles matches and lost only 25 in her entire career.

• She won 169 singles titles and 136 doubles titles.
• She was the ITF World Champion 13 times in a row.
• She won the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability twice, in 2002 and 2008.
• In 2023, she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, one of the highest honors in tennis.

Her amazing career has inspired people all over the world. Even other tennis legends like Roger Federer and Kim Clijsters have praised her for her incredible achievements.

Significant titles

• Australian Open: doubles 2003–04, 2006–09, 2011–12
• French Open: doubles 2007–09, 2011
• Wimbledon: doubles 2009, 2010, 2011
• US Open: doubles 1998–2000, 2003, 2005–07, 2009, 2010
• British Open: singles 2000–2010, doubles 1998–2004, 2006–09
• Japan Open: singles 2004, 2007–08, doubles 2004, 2007–08
• NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters ("World Championships"): singles 1998–2010, doubles 2001–2003, 2005–2009
• Paralympic Games: singles 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 & doubles 2000, 2004, 2012

Career statistics

Grand Slam finals

Wheelchair singles (21 titles)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	2002	Wheelchair Classic 8's at Australian Open (1)	Hard	Daniela di Toro	6–2, 6–0
Win	2003	Wheelchair Classic 8's at Australian Open (2)	Hard	Daniela di Toro	2–6, 6–0, 6–3
Win	2004	Wheelchair Classic 8's at Australian Open (3)	Hard	Daniela di Toro	4–6, 6–3, 6–1
Win	2005	US Open (1)	Hard	Korie Homan	6–2, 6–1
Win	2006	Wheelchair Classic 8's at Australian Open (4)	Hard	Jiske Griffioen	6–4, 6–0
Win	2006	US Open (2)	Hard	Sharon Walraven	6–1, 6–2
Win	2007	Australian Open (5)	Hard	Florence Gravellier	6–1, 6–0
Win	2007	French Open (1)	Clay	Florence Gravellier	6–3, 5–7, 6–2
Win	2007	US Open (3)	Hard	Florence Gravellier	6–3, 6–1
Win	2008	Australian Open (6)	Hard	Korie Homan	6–3, 6–3
Win	2008	French Open (2)	Clay	Korie Homan	6–2, 6–2
Win	2009	Australian Open (7)	Hard	Korie Homan	6–4, 6–2
Win	2009	French Open (3)	Clay	Korie Homan	6–2, 7–5
Win	2009	US Open (4)	Hard	Korie Homan	6–0, 6–0
Win	2010	French Open (4)	Clay	Sharon Walraven	6–0, 6–0
Win	2010	US Open (5)	Hard	Daniela di Toro	6–0, 6–0
Win	2011	Australian Open (8)	Hard	Daniela di Toro	6–0, 6–0
Win	2011	French Open (5)	Clay	Marjolein Buis	6–0, 6–2
Win	2011	US Open (6)	Hard	Aniek van Koot	6–2, 6–1
Win	2012	Australian Open (9)	Hard	Aniek van Koot	6–0, 6–0
Win	2012	French Open (6)	Clay	Aniek van Koot	6–0, 6–0