Esther Vergeer
Esther Mary Vergeer (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɛstər vərˈɣeːr]; born 18 July 1981) is a Dutch former professional wheelchair tennis player. Vergeer won 42 major titles (21 in singles and 21 in doubles), 23 year-end championships (14 consecutive in singles and nine in doubles), and seven Paralympic gold medals (four in singles and three in doubles). She was the world No. 1 in women's wheelchair singles from 1999 to her retirement in February 2013. Vergeer went undefeated in singles for ten straight years, ending her career on a winning streak of 470 matches. She has often been named the most dominant player in professional sports.
| Full name | Esther Mary Vergeer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country (sports) | Netherlands | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence | Woerden, Netherlands | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 18 July 1981 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
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| Last updated on: 28 January 2012. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Over the course of her career, Vergeer won 700 singles matches and lost 25. She won 169 singles titles, including four Paralympic singles gold medals, 21 major titles and 14 NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters. Vergeer spent 668 weeks as the world No. 1, first claiming the position on 6 April 1999, regaining it on 2 October 2000, and relinquishing it on 21 January 2013 (shortly before her retirement). Vergeer was the ITF World Champion for 13 years in a row. In doubles, Vergeer won 136 titles, 27 of which were won at the majors. She has three Paralympic gold medals for doubles, and was part of the winning World Team Cup side on 12 occasions.
Vergeer went undefeated in women's singles matches for ten years, having last lost on 30 January 2003 to Daniela di Toro. Afterwards, she won 120 tournaments, 470 matches, defeated 73 different opponents and did not lose a game on 95 occasions. Further, during the streak she lost only 18 sets and was taken to match point only once, against Korie Homan in the final of the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.