Brad Parks, one of the co-founders of the game, and Chantal Vandierendonck were the first ITF World Champions for wheelchair tennis in 1991. In more recent times, Shingo Kunieda and Esther Vergeer have ruled the roost and continue to dominate the sport today.
Men
Stephane Houdet enjoyed a breakthrough year to be named Wheelchair World Champion for the first time at the age of 42.
The Frenchman won his first Grand Slam singles title on home soil at Roland Garros to take over the No. 1 ranking, and stayed at the top for the rest of the year. He was also a singles silver medallist at the Paralympic Tennis Event and led France to victory in the BNP Paribas World Team Cup.
Houdet said: “This has been my best year with my first Grand Slam victory in my country in front of my friends and family, two Paralympic medals, and winning the World Team Cup. These are dreams come true, but also give me new dreams to continue along the same path.”
Houdet will receive his 2012 award at the ITF World Champions Dinner, to be held in Paris on 4 June 2013.
Honour roll
- 2012: Stephane Houdet (FRA)
- 2011: Maikel Scheffers (NED)
- 2010: Shingo Kunieda (JPN)
- 2009: Shingo Kunieda (JPN)
- 2008: Shingo Kunieda (JPN)
- 2007: Shingo Kunieda (JPN)
- 2006: Robin Ammerlaan (NED)
- 2005: Michael Jeremiasz (FRA)
- 2004: David Hall (AUS)
- 2003: David Hall (AUS)
- 2002: David Hall (AUS)
- 2001: Ricky Molier (NED)
- 2000: David Hall (AUS)
- 1999: Steven Welch (USA)
- 1998: David Hall (AUS)
- 1997: Ricky Molier (NED)
- 1996: Ricky Molier (NED)
- 1995: David Hall (AUS)
- 1994: Laurent Giammartini (FRA)
- 1993: Kai Schrameyer (GER)
- 1992: Laurent Giammartini (FRA)
- 1991: Randy Snow (USA)
Women
Esther Vergeer extended her winning streak to 470 matches en route to the year-end No. 1 wheelchair tennis ranking for the 13th consecutive year.
The 31-year-old became tennis’s most successful Paralympian, winning her fourth successive singles gold in London. She won a total of 10 singles titles during the year, including the Grand Slam events at the Australian Open and Roland Garros.
Vergeer said: “Again I am very proud to be the year-end No. 1. My main goal for this year was winning a gold medal in London, but being No. 1 at the end of this year is something that I have worked for all-year long. So it is a crown for all the hard work I put in.”
Vergeer will receive her 2012 award at the ITF World Champions Dinner, to be held in Paris on 4 June 2013.
Honour roll
- 2012: Esther Vergeer (NED)
- 2011: Esther Vergeer (NED)
- 2010: Esther Vergeer (NED)
- 2009: Esther Vergeer (NED)
- 2008: Esther Vergeer (NED)
- 2007: Esther Vergeer (NED)
- 2006: Esther Vergeer (NED)
- 2005: Esther Vergeer (NED)
- 2004: Esther Vergeer (NED)
- 2003: Esther Vergeer (NED)
- 2002: Esther Vergeer (NED)
- 2001: Esther Vergeer (NED)
- 2000: Esther Vergeer (NED)
- 1999: Daniela di Toro (AUS)
- 1998: Daniela di Toro (AUS)
- 1997: Chantal Vandierendonck (NED)
- 1996: Chantal Vandierendonck (NED)
- 1995: Monique Kalkman (NED)
- 1994: Monique Kalkman (NED)
- 1993: Monique Kalkman (NED)
- 1992: Monique Kalkman (NED)
- 1991: Chantal Vandierendonck (NED)