Cast your memory back to 11 February 2021. Can you remember what you were doing? I didn’t think so. It was a long time ago, after all.

However, that date is probably etched into Diede de Groot’s memory because it was the last time that the Dutchwoman lost a tennis match.

In possibly the least surprising news that you will hear this week, De Groot has been crowned ITF World Champion in the wheelchair tennis women’s category for the fifth year on the bounce.

Undefeated for another 12 months, the 26-year-old has now won her last 127 matches.

Almost as unsurprising as the fact that she finished the year ranked No. 1 in the world, is just how modest she remains.

“Overall, it was a very good year,” she said. “I was very consistent. I love competing. It’s what you train for.”

According to De Groot, her season highlights were the two events that she got to play on home soil.

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“It was really special to play at home in Rotterdam twice this year,” she explained. “At the beginning of the year, being combined [at the ABN AMRO] in the biggest tournament we have in Holland, playing in front of a few thousand people. So many of my family and friends could come and watch. It was such a special feeling. I think it will be one of the highlights maybe even of my career.

“I got to do it again this year for the European Para Games in Rotterdam. Again, in front of the home crowd. Again, a very special circumstance in the middle of the city. It has been a nice year with those different tournaments.”

De Groot has finished the last six seasons as the year-end world No. 1, but due to the Covid pandemic this is the fifth straight World Champions Award that she is receiving.