Wheelchair tennis star Esther Vergeer diagnosed with breast cancer

Jan 22, 2020
Social

Jack Draper joins forces with Alzheimer’s Society as grandmother battles dementia

By Baseline Staff Dec 07, 2023
2023 Year in Review

Top 5 Best Quotes of 2023, No. 2: Novak Djokovic bosses up to Next Gen challenge

By David Kane Dec 07, 2023
Pop Culture

Nick Kyrgios is OnlyFans' newest content creator

By Associated Press Dec 07, 2023
The Top 10 Matches of 2023

No. 8 Match of '23: "Destroyed" Elena Rybakina outlasts Kasatkina in Montreal marathon

By Steve Tignor Dec 07, 2023
Facts & Stats

Biggest ranking movers in 2023: Michelsen, Andreeva make biggest jumps into year-end Top 100

By John Berkok Dec 07, 2023
Pop Culture

Trailblazing Beatriz Haddad Maia named GQ Brazil's "Woman of the Year"

By Stephanie Livaudais Dec 07, 2023
2023 Year in Review

Top 5 Best Quotes of 2023, No. 3: Serena Williams says '8 is a better number'

By Baseline Staff Dec 06, 2023
The Top 10 Matches of 2023

No. 9 of '23: Aryna Sabalenka "somehow magically" wins US Open semifinal over Keys

By Steve Tignor Dec 06, 2023
Style Points

NBA star Jimmy Butler is launching a tennis-inspired colorway for his signature sneaker

By Baseline Staff Dec 06, 2023

Wheelchair tennis star Esther Vergeer diagnosed with breast cancer

The 38-year-old Dutch, who retired in 2013, won 25 Grand Slam titles, four Paralympic singles gold medals and three doubles golds.

Published Jan 22, 2020

Advertising

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Esther Vergeer, the retired Dutch wheelchair tennis star who had a winning streak of 470 matches during her record-breaking career, has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Vergeer announced the diagnosis in a tweet Wednesday, saying her “full focus will be on the treatment and healing of the cancer. Full of positive energy and with the support of my family, friends and colleagues, I will go for it. I am sure I will get through this!”

The 38-year-old Vergeer has used a wheelchair since she was 8, when an operation to correct hemorrhaging around her spinal cord left her paraplegic.

She took up wheelchair tennis and strung together a list of titles that led Richard Krajicek, the 1996 Wimbledon champion, to call her “perhaps the most successful sportsperson of all time.”

Her winning streak lasted from 2003-2012. During that time she won 25 Grand Slam titles, four Paralympic singles gold medals and three doubles golds.

Vergeer is the leader of the Dutch team for the Tokyo Paralympics Games, which open on Aug. 25.