Party time for Vink as he seals first Calendar Grand Slam at US Open
It has become commonplace to ask Niels Vink how he intends to mark his latest Grand Slam title as the answers are always illuminating, entertaining and amusing – no doubt much like the celebrations.
Firstly, the on-court stuff. Vink defeated fellow Dutchman Sam Schroder 6-2 7-5 to lift the US Open quad singles title and seal a sixth successive Grand Slam singles title. Significantly, however, this was the first Calendar Grand Slam of his career.
For those unaware, the Calendar Grand Slam follows victories at all four Grand Slams – Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open – in the same year. In Vink’s case, this applies to singles titles at those Grand Slams.
This was a big moment for the 23-year-old, who now has 11 Grand Slam singles titles to his name as he continues to chase down the 15 won by Dylan Alcott, who has claimed more than any other quad player.
Vink has previously revealed he is something of a party animal and has celebrated past Grand Slam triumphs by climbing atop a bar with beers in hand singing karaoke, popping corks and heading to Mallorca.
This time around, his answer to the question was direct and to the point. “Champagne,” said Vink, who is ranked No. 1 in the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour Rankings. “I don’t know if it will be a whole bottle to myself, let’s see.”
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This was a big moment for Vink, who becomes just the third wheelchair tennis player to complete the Calendar Grand Slam in singles after fellow quad player Alcott and serial women’s champion Diede de Groot.
“This title is more special because now I have completed the Calendar Grand Slam and I am the only one after Dylan Alcott to do it in my division,” added Vink, who now has three US Open quad singles titles to his name.
“This US Open was the hardest. I don’t what it was, I really don’t know. I was not really in the mood, to be honest. Overall I played well, but I remember last year every match I played I was feeling so confident.
“That wasn’t the case this year so to win, while feeling that way, I’m really happy. In the first set, I didn’t miss much while Sam was missing a lot which gave me a lot of free points.
“In the second set, Sam missed almost nothing. My level was the same throughout the whole match, but he started playing better in the second set – and, luckily, I got the second set.
“Sam and I know each other so well. I know his weaknesses and I know his strong points. And it’s the same, him knowing mine. I’m just trying to win today because if we play tomorrow, it could be completely different.”
In the quad doubles, meanwhile, Vink was denied a Calendar Grand Slam as he and Guy Sasson – winners of the previous six Grand Slam titles together – were beaten 6-2 2-6 [10-7] by Schroder and Jin Woodman of Australia in the final.
A full list of results from the 2026 US Open Wheelchair Championships can be found here