US Open semi-finalist Van Koot: 'I can’t believe I still get nervous'
The nerves never go away. Whether it’s her first US Open or, as was the case this year, her 13th, Aniek van Koot still gets the butterflies.
“I can’t believe I still get nervous, but it means so much to me, because I want to do well,” van Koot said. “The day I don’t get nervous, is when I need to quit.”
Van Koot is 35 years old now, and is still going strong after an outstanding career in wheelchair tennis. The Dutch woman has won three singles Slam titles (Roland Garros is the only one she hasn’t won, but she has made the US Open finals four times, including this year) and 24 Slam doubles titles as well.
At this US Open Van Koot is seeded No. 2 in women’s singles, and had a tough match that she pulled out on Thursday, beating Ksenia Chasteau 7-5 6-4.
Van Koot is enjoying tennis again, something she wasn’t sure she’d ever do.
“In 2020 I really wanted to quit. I didn’t enjoy it anymore,” van Koot said after her match on Wednesday. “But my Mom, Edith, said ‘if you want to quit, fine, but don’t quit when you’re down. Quit when you’re smiling and still enjoying it.’ And she was right.’”
Van Koot can’t pinpoint exactly why she wasn’t enjoying tennis after a terrific career, but said insecurity about life without it was a big factor.
“I thought ‘I only have tennis. It’s the only thing I’m good at, and I have nothing without it,’” van Koot said.
She credited working with a cognitive behavioural therapist (CBT) as the thing that changed her outlook, and with a new coach since 2023, Robin van Beveren.
“My well-being is no longer solely based on tennis,” van Koot said. “But I eventually found things next to the court that I can do, that I like. I found people who can back me up, and things I can do after I retire.
“So now, I know when I do retire, I have a nice future ahead.”
That future includes an ambassadorship in the Achterhoek region of the Netherlands where she lives, working to get more people into sports.
“It’s dear to my heart to get everyone into sports; health wise, and to break barriers for people with a disability, that they can join any sports club,” van Koot said. “Whatever you want to play, it can give you joy.”
The marquee match of Thursday in the wheelchair championships was the battle between No. 1 seed Yui Kamiji of Japan and the legendary Diede de Groot of the Netherlands, winner of 23 singles Grand Slam titles in women’s singles, who is still working her way back into form after missing eight months for hip surgery and rehab.
It was strange for these two greats to battle as soon as a quarterfinal, but with De Groot missing so much time, her ranking fell to where a meeting with Kamiji was possible.
De Groot played a terrific first set and broke Kamiji to go up 5-3, then served it out.
But the Japanese star, winner of 10 Slam titles in singles, broke De Groot at four-all by playing outstanding defense, then held serve to level the match.
In the third set De Groot seized the advantage in the second game, breaking serve with a beautiful backhand winner, then holding for a 3-0 lead.
Kamiji then ripped off four straight games, breaking serve twice, before breaking yet again at 4-all to serve for the match.
Kamiji then calmly served it out, winning match point on a Dee Groot return that clipped the tape and fell softly wide.
It was a thrilling return to the rivalry that has seen these two greats play 64 times, with Kamiji now having captured the last four meetings.
A full list of results from the 2025 US Open Wheelchair Championships is available here