Esther Vergeer: The 'Wheelchair Arena looks amazing'

Understandably beaming with pride, Esther Vergeer drives her wheelchair in and out of the new arena. Under the gaze of hundreds of tennis fans, none other than Jannik Sinner was still training there at that time, in the beautifully renovated and impressive tennis court in one of the halls of Rotterdam Ahoy. However, from Wednesday onwards the Wheelchair Arena will belong to Vergeer and her staff who are organizing the wheelchair tournament at the ABN AMRO Open for the sixteenth time. 'It looks amazing,’ she says about the brand new showcourt, and that is no understatement.

Wheelchair tennis is alive and well in The Netherlands. With Diede de Groot as Vergeer's successor, an undisputed World No. 1, there is increasing international recognition for this sport. Twelve players from seven countries are participating in the men’s tournament, and eight players from five countries are in the women’s draw. Both tournaments include their respective top seeds. The Dutch tournament director adds : 'I am very proud of that. The fact that Alfie Hewett, the current  men’s World No. 1,  is present is also great.’

From Friday to Sunday, meetings will also be held in Ahoy to discuss the future of tennis for people and athletes with disabilities; they will bring together the board of directors as well as officials from the International Tennis Federation, and organisers of all four Grand Slams (the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open). 'We are also receiving visits from organisers of the ATP events in Rome and Munich. They intend to organise wheelchair tournaments and want to know how we do it,’ Vergeer adds. 'Well, I'm sure they will be amazed by the new Wheelchair Arena : that is a compliment for all of us, and a testament to our efforts. We have worked so hard over the last fifteen years. It's great that we can play here in such a beautiful arena, and to know that this sport will be practised by more and more people around the world.’

The draw for the tournament produced some special match-ups. In the men’s draw, the Dutch Ruben Spaargaren and Tom Egberink compete against each other, after which the winner will face Alfie Hewett. For the women, Jiske Griffioen and Lizzy de Greef will face each other. Title defender Diede de Groot meets the Chilean Macarena Cabrillana. The women's final will be broadcast live on NPO1 on Saturday.