Wheelchair tennis star Esther Vergeer diagnosed with breast cancer

Jan 22, 2020
Rome, Italy

Arthur Fils downplays Rome dispute with Stefanos Tsitsipas in Rome

By David Kane May 11, 2025
Pick of the Day

Rome Betting Preview: Linda Noskova vs. Mirra Andreeva

By Zachary Cohen May 11, 2025
Rome, Italy

Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe all bounced in Rome openers

By TENNIS.com May 11, 2025
Rome, Italy

Rome Previews & Picks: Sabalenka vs. Kenin, Fils vs. Tsitsipas, Rybakina vs. Andreesu

By Steve Tignor May 11, 2025
Rome, Italy

Jannik Sinner: Rome return means “more than any result”

By David Kane May 10, 2025
Rome, Italy

Jannik Sinner makes winning comeback to the tour with straight-set victory in Rome

By John Berkok May 10, 2025
Social

Emil Ruusuvuori opens up about panic attacks, mental health challenges

By Liya Davidov May 10, 2025
Rome, Italy

Rome: Peyton Stearns doesn’t regret tweeting through coaching switch

By David Kane May 10, 2025
Rome, Italy

Iga Swiatek: “It would be stupid to expect a lot” at Roland Garros after Rome loss

By David Kane May 10, 2025

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

Wheelchair tennis star Esther Vergeer diagnosed with breast cancer

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.