For the first time in NEC Wheelchair Masters history, the finals were broadcast live. If you want to see what you missed check out our media archive now!

The finals of The Masters will be broadcast live today through this website. Make sure to watch the mens final Maikel Scheffers - Robin Ammerlaan on sunday november 22 from 12:55 PM, followed by the ladies finals Korie Homan - Esther Vergeer round 15:30 PM. The commentary will be done by Dutch tv-host Marc de Hond and USA tennis coach Dan James. Come to the Frans Otten Stadion in Amsterdam and watch the games there, en if that is not possible you don't have to miss a single thing. All games will be broadcast online. As soon as the program starts you will find a link here to the live video stream.

The wheelchair tennis community is in mourning after hearing the sad news that one of the true legends of the sport, Randy Snow, passed away on Thursday night.

A pioneer in the world of wheelchair sports, Randy set an example to all other athletes, playing both wheelchair tennis and basketball as well as being a fierce competitor in the sport of wheelchair racing. Randy broke barriers in 1984 when he won a silver medal in a wheelchair racing exhibition at the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, bringing exposure for the first time to disabled athletes.

Where Randy made the biggest mark, however, was in the world of tennis. During his playing career, he went on to become the world No. 1, and in 1992 won both the singles and doubles gold medals at the Paralympic Games in Barcelona, triumphing in the doubles event with best friend and founder of wheelchair tennis Brad Parks. He was also part of the bronze medal winning USA wheelchair basketball team in Atlanta in 1996.

Having been so successful in the game, Randy felt compelled to promote wheelchair tennis around the world, becoming an ambassador for the sport. As well as writing books, he also attended and hosted various wheelchair tennis clinics around the world, trying to touch as many people's lives as possible. All his hard work was rewarded when he was inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in 2004. However, never one to rest on his laurels, Randy continued to travel the world to promote his love and passion for the sport.

A real personality on the tour, Randy made many friends and touched many people's lives. His determination and dedication to promoting wheelchair sports around the world has been an example and an inspiration to all that knew him.

"The entire ITF family is saddened to hear of the death of Randy Snow. To us, he was much more than an icon in wheelchair tennis; he was a valued friend and colleague. Randy was a celebrated player who gave back to the sport in many ways including the development work he undertook in South America, Asia and Africa. Everyone at the ITF joins me in sending condolences to Randy's family. We will miss him very much."  ITF President, Francesco Ricci Bitti

"As a friend and colleague of Randy, myself and the whole wheelchair tennis family are extremely sad to hear the news of Randy's death. Randy was a great champion and a true ambassador for our sport. He was a 10-time US Open champion, the first ITF World Champion, first NEC Masters champion, and an Olympic gold medallist. He has undertaken development work in several countries including Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, El Salvador, Paraguay, Vietnam, and South Africa, and has had a positive impact on the lives of so many people. He will be deeply missed."  Mark Bullock, ITF Wheelchair Tennis Manager

 

Esther Vergeer showed all visitors of the Masters today that she was the very best of the world. The number one of the world  has won today from Korie Homan (second on the world ranking). Both of the ladies reached the final smootly. Vergeer won her match in three sets. The second set was for Homan in which she was the best player and everyone was hoping for a new surprise after the surprise of the men, the young Swedish Stefan Olsson has won from Ammerlaan and became the winner of the Masters for men. But Vergeer was too good in the third set and defeated her opponent with 6-0, the 11th MasterTitel for Vergeer was a fact. Result: Vergeer-Homan 6-2 3-6 6-0

David Wagner has won his fourth Mastertitel today by winning from his young opponent Johan Andersson from Sweden in three sets. Wagner started strong and won the first set with 6-1, it seems like an easy victory at that time. But this wasn't true, Andersson came back strong in the second set and won this set with 6-3. The final set was for Wagner again, the American wasn't stressed and won the third set easily with 6-2. Result: Wagner-Andersson 6-1 3-6 6-2

Sharon Walraven has pulled herself back from the tournament. She retired yesterday during te game against Korie Homan because of an injury she has for a long time now, a tennis arm is making it very difficult to play. Today (Thursday) she tried to play a game again but this time she was also in too much pain to end here game, this meanwhile she was ahead of her competitor Annick Sevenans with 6-2 and 0-2! For Walraven it means the end of the tournament and the and of her season. A season in which she won a gold medal in Beijing with her double partner Korie Homan! She will have surgeries for her injure and hopes that she can play in April again.

Ronald Vink is replacing Tadesuz Kruszelnicki who decided not to come to the Masters this year. Vink became fourth during the Paralympic Games in Beijing from this year.

Monique Velzeboer photographed Esther Vergeer for the first time for the Amsterdam Masters in 2006. For three years these golden portraits would stay central in the promotion of the WK Wheelchair Tennis. Meanwhile Monique had made much more  portraits from `golden' athletes and she has collected these and has brought out in an unique anniversary calendar. The photo's where present in the Holland House during the Olympic Games in Beijing. During the Masters you can buy a calendar and get it signed by Monique Velzeboer hereself! The turnover of the calender is for the 'Liliane Foundation'.

Besides Paralympic champion and World champion wheelchair tennis Ester Vergeer, she photographed Bart Brentjes - Olympic Champion on the mountain bike, Marit van Eupen - Olympic Row Champion and World champion, Gianne Romme - Olympic Champion and World champion Ice speed skating, Kenny van Weeghel - Paralympic Champion Wheelchair racing, Yuri van Gelder - Worldchampion Gymnastics, Marcelien de Koning and Lobke Berkhout - Worldchampions Sailing. De sign-session will be on Saturday 15th of November from 3.00-4.00 pm and on Sunday 16th of November between the finales.

You can now buy your tickets online for the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters 2008. You can only order your tickets on this website, so you don't have to wait in line! 

Since the closing of the Paralympics in Beijing the names of the players are known who qualified for the Masters 2008 based on their ranking since then. Please click here to see the complete overview of the players. Once again the Masters 2008 are being held at the legendary Frans Otten Stadium in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Individuals and businesses during the 2008 Ordina Open in Rosmalen, 15-21 June, decide to be a supporter of the Fund Gehandicaptensport may participate in a MasterClass in November during the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters will be given by Raemon Sluiter and John van Lottum.

During the Ordina Open 2008 will be launched with the promotion of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters. This is a direct result of cooperation with the Fund Gehandicaptensport that a state has in the promotion village.

Visitors to the only international grass tennis event of the Netherlands will be informed about the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters. The Fund Gehandicaptensport hopes new donors, both individuals and businesses to recruit. Benificiaries may during the Masters in November participate in a real (wheelchair) tennis MasterClass led by none other than Raemon Sluiter and John van Lottum.

The Ordina Open 2008 will take place from Sunday 15 until Saturday, June 21 at the grass courts of the Autotron in Rosmalen.

Click here to the website of the Ordina Open to visit.

Esther Vergeer and Robin Ammerlaan are the winners of the finals played today. Vergeer played against Korie Homan and Robin Ammerlaan won against Michael Jeremiasz from France.

Results:
Vergeer - Homan: 6-3, 6-4
Ammerlaan Jeremiasz: 7-6 (8) 5-7 6-0

A surprise in the first semi-final in the men's singles tournament. Michael Jeremiasz beated Shingo Kunieda, the Japanese number 1 in the world.

In the the first women's semi-final, Korie Homan progressed to the finals.

Ammerlaan - Houdet ended in 7-5 7-5, so the men's final will be Robin Ammerlaan - Michael Jeremiasz.

Esther Vergeer will play against Korie Homan in the final, she won against Jiske Griffioen with 6-1 6-3

David Wagner wins the Quads Masters. He defeated Peter Norfolk with 6-4 6-1

Do you know what this text means? If so, you could win one of three K-SWISS shirts, including one with an autograph of all three Japanese players. Send your answer to masters@wheelchairtennis-amsterdam.com , or give your answer at our MasterDesk in the stadium. Don't forget to mention your name. The prizegiving will be after the womens final.

The second day of the Masters is just begon. On day 1 we saw some very exciting matches. This looks promising for the rest of the week. We can expect some great matches today!
For more news, check MasterNews our daily newsletter which is printed and handed out every day in the stadium, but also available online.

Tonight, it was finally time: at 100 spots in Amsterdam, advertising posters with the ‘Golden Girl’ were placed. The success of ‘Golden Esther’ has made us decide to work with the number 1 in the world and with photographer Monique Velzeboer again.

At last, the website is updated. In the next few weeks we will be able to keep you informed about the upcoming NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters even better. The biggest advantage of this new website is that we can publish the results even faster during the event.

The Schipholfonds was founded in 1994 by the Schiphol Airport Amsterdam and supports many projects in their neighbourhood. Boardmember Ray van Loon handed a cheque to Marijke Ruiter and Rutger Boerboom, during a festive gathering in one of the hangars at the airport on October 10.

We know which players will participate in this year's NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters. In order of ranking, the men's entries are: Shingo Kunieda, Robin Ammerlaan, Stefan Houdet, Michael Jeremiasz, Satoshi Saida, Maikel Scheffers, Ronald Vink en Tadeusz Kruszelnicki.

The women's entries are: Esther Vergeer, Sharon Walraven, Florence Gravellier, Korie Homan, Jiske Griffioen, Mie Yaosa, Annick Sevenans en Young-Suk Hong.
Esther Vergeer has a chance to win the World Championships for the tenth time!

The quad's entries are: David Wagner, Peter Norfolk, Nicholas Taylor en Sarah Hunter.