Diede de Groot
At the age of seven, as part of her rehabilitation, Diede made the decision to take up wheelchair tennis.
Not being dependent on a wheelchair for everyday mobility, she had to learn how to use it around the court – but Diede’s dedication and hours of practice would eventually pay off, with spectacular results.
While playing in tournaments, Diede was talent-spotted and invited to join the Dutch national tennis program.
She gained advice on both on- and off-court matters from the legendary Dutch wheelchair tennis player Esther Vergeer, who won 48 Grand Slam titles and went 10 years undefeated in singles competition.
Diede flourished, rising through the ranks until she was the No.1-ranked player on the world junior wheelchair tour.
Major league
After turning professional, one of Diede’s first achievements was to qualify for the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, where she claimed the silver medal in the women’s doubles alongside Marjolein Buis.
The next year, Diede made her Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open, losing in her first singles match and making the final of the doubles.