De Groot sets up gold medal showdown with Kamiji at Tokyo 2020
The world’s top two women’s wheelchair tennis players will face off for Paralympic singles gold after Diede De Groot and Yui Kamiji each posted straight-sets victories in their Tokyo 2020 semi-finals, both women bidding for the first Paralympic title of their storied careers.
De Groot, the world No. 1 and winner of the year’s three Grand Slam singles titles in 2021, advanced with an impressive 6-4 6-2 victory over Great Britain’s Jordanne Whiley, while Kamiji – who beat the Dutchwoman to claim bronze at Rio 2016 – notched a 6-2 6-2 win against Aniek van Koot, who had come out on top in each of their previous Paralympic meetings in London and Rio.
With 19 Grand Slam singles titles between them and shared ownership of the world No. 1 spot for the majority of the past seven years, this 38th career clash promises to be a special occasion, with Kamiji hoping to win Paralympic gold on home soil and De Groot still in contention to complete an unprecedented wheelchair tennis calendar Grand Slam this season.
Dutch players have won every women’s singles and doubles gold medal at the Paralympic Games since its introduction as a medal sport in 1992, and De Groot has the chance to keep that unbroken streak alive in both finals over the next two days.
Against Whiley, the 23-year-old was at her attacking best in the face of a sterling display from the Briton, outgunning her opponent by 24 winners to 18 and making just 11 unforced errors, a second-set surge to 4-0 all but sealing victory after claiming the opener.
“She played really well, and she really put me in difficult spots a lot,” De Groot said of Whiley, with both players converting each of their break points – seven for the world No. 1, four for the No. 4 seed. “For me, I’m just really happy that even though she played really well I was still managing to stay calm and play my own game.
“I’m super-thrilled, especially because it was such a tough match,” De Groot said of reaching her first Paralympic singles final. “Five years ago, I was in the same spot – I just knew that even though I was in the same spot, I’m not the same person. I just hoped that my game was good enough, and it was today.”
For Whiley, who will face van Koot for singles bronze and remains in the hunt for a doubles medal, the scoreline might not have changed from her last encounter with the world No. 1, but she took solace in having found some of her best form here in Tokyo.
“That was my strongest performance against her, so I can’t be too disappointed,” said Whiley. “I felt like I struggled to get it past her on such a big court, she’s such a good mover. I’m proud of my performance, and I still have another shot at a medal now, that’s something to look forward to.”
Kamiji admitted to feeling nerves in her third Paralympic singles clash with van Koot with the gold medal match on the line, and insisted she emerged from the win over the world No. 3 with plenty to work on ahead of the final.
“I'm not really happy with my performance today because I got nervous,” said the 27-year-old. “I couldn't play well, but I'm very happy with the result. My aim is not to make the final, my goal is to get the gold medal, so I still need to work hard until tomorrow, until the end.”
Van Koot and De Groot had laid down a marker against Kamiji and partner Momoko Ohtani in the doubles semi-finals, but in singles Kamiji had the measure of her opponent, spurred by the knowledge of her friend and regular doubles partner Whiley in the day’s first match.
“We had talked about facing each other in the final, but I saw the result before my match,” she said. “Immediately I thought I did not want to face her in the bronze medal match. I wanted both of us to win a medal – I thank her for giving me that drive before my match today, and I will play tomorrow for her as well.”
Kamiji admitted afterwards that her Rio 2016 semi-final defeat by van Koot has been a driving force over the past five years, despite managing to reach the podium with victory over De Groot in the bronze medal match.
“I was fortunate to come away with bronze in Rio 2016, but we were both disappointed with our semi-final losses that led to the bronze medal match,” she admitted, before paying tribute to the world No. 1’s rise to the top of the women’s game.
“She has really improved as a player since. I’m thrilled and happy to be facing her tomorrow. And I have no intention of losing.”