NEW YORK – Diede de Groot (NED) and Shingo Kunieda (JPN) swept the 2021 US Open Wheelchair Singles’ divisions.
De Groot is Golden
Entering Sunday’s Championship match, Diede de Groot had won all majors (Australian Open, Roland-Garros, and Wimbledon) in 2021 and collected a gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics in early September. A win on Sunday in New York would give De Groot the elusive Golden Slam.
Standing in her way was her biggest rival - Yui Kamiji, a 25-time Grand Slam champion. The pair had played each other 38 times before, with de Groot leading the head-to-head 23-15.
“I'm going to have to be very smart and I'm going to have to put a lot of pressure on her," de Groot said before the match. She wanted to make sure she didn’t focus too much on the outcome and more on each point.
De Groot did just that and made history along the way. She needed just over an hour to capture the elusive Golden Slam with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Kamiji. The Dutchwoman became the first-ever wheelchair player to accomplish the remarkable feat.
It was her 24th Grand Slam trophy and 7th in 2021 alone.
Kunieda Scores No. 25
On the men’s side, Shingo Kunieda won his 8th US Open Wheelchair Singles title, marking the 25th Grand Slam singles title in his career.
Arguably the greatest wheelchair player in history with 46 major titles, Kunieda had to come from a set-down in the semifinals to advance to the finals. After falling to Alfie Hewett in the doubles final, Kunieda got revenge in a straight-set victory in the singles final.
It was Kunieda’s 8th-straight victory dating back to his gold medal run at the Tokyo Paralympics just one week ago.
Diede’s Gear
Racquet: VCORE
String: REXIS
Bag: Pro Series Racquet Bag
Shingo’s Gear
Racquet: EZONE
Bag: Pro Series Racquet Bag