Nationality: Netherlands
Inducted: 2024
Notable Record(s):
- First wheelchair tennis player to complete a Career Grand Slam in singles
- Most Grand Slam wheelchair singles titles won (female)
An ICON because...
With her relentless efforts, Diede de Groot has written her name in the history of Grand Slams.
Born with unequal leg length, Diede underwent several surgeries as a baby. She took up tennis at the tender age of seven as part of her rehabilitation program and hasn't put the racket down since.
The tennis champ first earned a silver medal in women's double during the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro - her first Games ever - and won gold in both single and doubles during Tokyo 2020.
Since her debut in the 2017 Australian Open, the Dutch champion went from strength to strength and, in 2024, she claimed her 15th consecutive Grand Slam title. Her winning streak counts 38 matches, crowning her as the first consecutive calendar-year Grand Slam tennis champion ever.
In 2024, she was awarded the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability, and her example continues to inspire athletes.
