ITF honours Novak Djokovic, Petra Kvitova, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario

The World Champions Dinner was held last night to celebrate the achievements of the 2011 ITF World Champions.

Among the recipients were Novak Djokovic (who collected his award straight after his quarterfinal match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga), Petra Kvitova and Bob and Mike Bryan.

Petra Kvitova

The Bryan brothers and little Micaela

Wheelchair champion Esther Vergeer accepted her trophy for a record 12th year.

Spanish tennis star Arantxa Sanchez Vicario received ITF’s highest accolade, the Philippe Chatrier Award.

(Images via French Open Facebook fan page)

Rafael Nadal meets Esther Vergeer & his brand new Aston Martin

Champion wheelchair tennis player Esther Vergeer of Netherlands finally met Rafael Nadal at a tennis exhibition at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament.

Vergeer, a multiple Paralympic champion, is well known for her winning streak. So does Nadal who dominates the clay court.

Some off court news, Nadal received his perk for winning the Australian Open. It comes in a cool Aston Martin!

He took his Mom for a ride in the brand new car instead of girlfriend, Xisca.


(Images via zimbio)

Esther Vergeer wins gold and 349th straight match

Bronze medal winner France's Florence Gavellier, right, Netherland's gold medal winner Esther Vergeer, center, and silver medal winner Korie Homan, left, celebrate their win at the women's wheelchair tennis singles award ceremony at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games in Beijing.

Esther Vergeer won her 349th straight match Sunday, capturing the Paralympic gold medal in women's wheelchair tennis with a victory over Dutch teammate Korie Howman.


She won 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (5) to extend a streak that has lasted 5 1/2 years.

"I mean, I am going to lose matches one day," she said.

"But I was just really, really hoping it was not going to be today. I was just this close from losing this match, the most important match of my whole year." Vergeer won double gold medals in Sydney and Athens.

She will go for that again Monday in doubles with partner Jisek Griffioen. They face Americans Beth Arnoult and Kaitlyn Verfuerth in the final.

France's Florence Gravellier won the singles bronze, beating Griffioen 6-3, 6-4.

(Via The Associated Press)

Dutch players are strong contenders at the Beijing Paralympic tennis event

I can't believe I didn't even write a single post about the Paralympic tennis event Beijing. Shame on me! The U.S. Open is not a good excuse not to write.


Did your local TV network show the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games last Saturday?

Well done to China for such a tremendous effort! Judging from the photos, it matches the quality of the Beijing Olympics last month. Even Hong Kong singer Andy Lau performed at this event!

Now emphasizing on the wheelchair tennis, it was first introduced at the 1988 Seoul Paralympic Games as a demonstration sport and became a full-medal sport at the 1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona.

Shingo Kunieda of Japan

This year four-time gold medallist Esther Vergeer (Netherland) and Shingo Kunieda (Japan) head the entries for the wheelchair tennis event at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics on 8-15 September.

Esther Vergeer, a hot favourite, at the Great Wall of China.

Esther Vergeer will bid for her third successive gold medal in both singles and doubles in Beijing. The 26-year-old has remained unbeaten in the women's singles since 2003.

Her strongest challenges will come from Frenchwoman Florence Gravellier, Marie-Annick Sevenans of Belgium and Dong Fuli from China.

Robin Ammerlaan is the defending champion.

There is also a strong Dutch entry in the men's singles, with Robin Ammerlaan, defending his title, alongside Maikel Scheffers and Ronald Vink.

There will be six wheelchair tennis events. They include men's singles and doubles, women's singles and doubles, and quad singles and doubles.

(Images via ITF Tennis website, Beijing Paralympic official website)