Esther Vergeer

Esther Vergeer, born on July 18, 1981, is a celebrated Dutch former professional wheelchair tennis and basketball player. Renowned for her exceptional skills, Vergeer dominated the world of wheelchair tennis, amassing an impressive collection of forty-three major titles, which includes twenty-one in singles and twenty-two in doubles. Her remarkable career is highlighted by her achievement of winning seven Paralympic gold medals, four in singles and three in doubles, solidifying her status as one of the sport's all-time greats.

From 1999 until her retirement in February 2013, Vergeer held the prestigious title of world No. 1 in women's wheelchair singles. During this period, she went on an unprecedented ten-year undefeated streak in singles, concluding her career with a remarkable winning streak of four hundred seventy matches. Over her illustrious career, she recorded seven hundred singles victories against only twenty-five losses, showcasing her dominance on the court.

Vergeer's accolades extend beyond her singles success; she also excelled in doubles, winning one hundred thirty-six titles, including twenty-seven at major tournaments. Her contributions to the sport were recognized as she was named the ITF World Champion for thirteen consecutive years. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in her team's success at the World Team Cup, contributing to twelve victories.

Throughout her career, Vergeer faced numerous opponents, defeating seventy-three different players and achieving the remarkable feat of not losing a game on ninety-five occasions. Her resilience and skill were evident as she lost only eighteen sets during her ten-year streak, with her only match point scare occurring against Korie Homan in the final of the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.