'Completely different headspace': Schroder returns to Wimbledon final
Rivalry between Dutch pair Sam Schroder and Niels Vink has dominated the quad division of wheelchair tennis ever since Dylan Alcott’s retirement at the 2022 Australian Open.
The pair won all eight of the Grand Slam titles between the Aussie Open two years ago and last month’s Roland Garros when Guy Sasson of Israel disrupted their dominance.
Sasson announced himself on the global stage by dispatching Schroder in the final on Parisian clay. On Sunday, however, what had become the norm will once again play out as Schroder and Vink lock horns once more with silverware on the line.
The duo will meet in the 2024 Wimbledon quad final after Schroder defeated Great Britain’s Andy Lapthorne 6-1 6-0 in the draw’s second semi-final after Vink had conquered Sasson 7-5 7-5 in the first.
It will be the second Wimbledon final that Schroder and Vink have contested following their 2022 showdown when the former prevailed in straight sets.
Following his shock semi-final demise here last year at the hands of Australia’s Heath Davidson, world No. 1 Schroder is stoked to be back in a Wimbledon final with the chance of silverware.
“It is particularly pleasing to reach the final after missing out last year – definitely,” Six-time Grand Slam singles champion Schroder told itftennis.com. “That was a tough loss to swallow.
“There were definitely some things going on mentally that made me not very motivated, not have a lot of energy and not focus on the tournament that well during Wimbledon.
“Mentally I am in a really good place now and really motivated. I have only lost a couple of matches this year, so it is a completely different headspace. I am fully focussed on my matches now.
“It was a dream come true to win here in 2022 and win here for the first time. It was the Grand Slam I was never expecting to win and, even though I was here 12 months ago, I had great memories coming back here this year.”
Vink will be no pushover. The 21-year-old is bidding to become just the second player to retain a Wimbledon quad wheelchair singles title – after Alcott, who won here in 2019 and 2021.
Their head-to-head record also favours Vink, who has won 20 of the 32 showdowns between the two players, although both players have won a match each on grass against each other. Of course, the duo are also friends on and off court.
“We are doubles partners and very much each other’s biggest competitors,” said Schroder. “We know each other’s strong points and each other’s weak points.
“We have played each other so many times. They are always good matches and we will both have to play at our best level to beat each other. I have a lot of confidence from the last few weeks today and feel good heading into the final.”
Elsewhere, it was a fascinating day of wheelchair tennis, particularly in the men’s draw where Spain’s Martin de la Puente caused a seismic shock by defeating world No. 1 Tokito Oda.
De La Puente recovered from a first-set hammering to prevail 1-6 6-3 6-3 and reach his first Grand Slam singles final. The 25-year-old will now face Great Britain’s Alfie Hewett, who also overturned a first set deficit to beat Gustavo Fernandez 4-6 6-4 7-5.
In the women’s draw, world No. 1 Diede de Groot of Netherlands will face compatriot Aniek van Koot in the final following their respective semi-final victories.
De Groot dispatched Wang Ziying of China, P.R. to claim her 51st consecutive Grand Slam match-win as she bids for her 15th straight Grand Slam title. Quite some statistics.
Van Koot, meanwhile, overcame Yui Kamiji of Japan 5-7 6-4 7-5 and will now contest her first Wimbledon final since 2019 when she won the last of her three Grand Slam singles titles.