Vergeer Receives 12th World Champions Award

With over 440 consecutive singles wins under her belt, Dutch Wheelchair Tennis player Esther Vergeer is riding the wave of success all the way to London 2012. 06 Jun 2012

(L-R) World Champions Esther Vergeer, Jiri Vesely, Bob Bryan, ITF President Ricci Bitti, Petra Kvitova, Mike Bryan, Irina Khromacheva and Maikel Scheffers posing with their awards during the ITF World Champions Dinner on June 5, 2012 in Paris, France.

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By IPC

"Vergeer is unbeaten in over 440 singles matches since 2003. She has not even dropped a set in the last two seasons."

Dutch Wheelchair Tennis phenomenon Esther Vergeer received the International World Champions trophy for the 12th time in her career at the 2012 ITF World Champions Dinner on Tuesday 5 June in Paris at the Pavillon d’Armenonville. Compatriot Maikel Scheffers was also there to pick up the men’s award.

Vergeer is unbeaten in over 440 singles matches since 2003. She has not even dropped a set in the last two seasons.

In 2011 she won eight singles titles, including all three Grand Slam singles events (Australian Open, Roland Garros and US Open) and the year-end NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters. Her dominance of the Super Series events also continued taking the title at the Florida Open, British Open and US Open Championships.

Vergeer also won all four Grand Slam doubles titles and the Invacare Doubles Masters with Sharon Walraven, and led Netherlands’ women to victory in the ITF World Team Cup.

Maikel Scheffers ended Shingo Kunieda’s reign as men’s Wheelchair World Champion after guaranteeing himself the year-end No. 1 Wheelchair Tennis ranking when reaching the final of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters at the end of the season.

Kuneida had won the title for the previous four years.

Scheffers captured six singles titles in 2011, including his first Grand Slam success at Roland Garros and five doubles titles.

His main success came during a summer in which he won consecutive tournaments at the Swiss Open, British Open and Trofeo Della Mole. He also helped the Dutch men regain the ITF World Team Cup.