Dutch delight once more as Schroder and Vink retain quad doubles gold
Dutchmen Sam Schroder and Niels Vink are celebrating again after overpowering Great Britain’s Andy Lapthorne and Greg Slade to win quad doubles gold at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Event.
As they have been on so many occasions, Schroder and Vink were at their ruthless best on Court Philippe Chatrier and defeated Lapthorne and Slade 6-1 6-1.
Victory ensured Schroder and Vink have become the second quad doubles team to successfully defend a Paralympic gold medal after Americans Nick Taylor and David Wagner, who won three consecutive golds from Athens 2004 onwards.
Netherlands now have 10 players who have won multiple gold medals in Paralympic wheelchair history after Esther Vergeer, Maaike Smit, Monique van den Bosch, Robin Ammerlaan, Diede de Groot, Jiske Griffioen, Chantal Vandierendonck and Aniek van Koot.
Schroder, who has six Grand Slam singles titles to his name, was visibly emotional on the podium as the Dutch flag was raised and the anthem played.
“It was very special,” he said. “The emotion was mainly because it’s the second gold medal already in such a short career. But also, in Tokyo, we couldn’t have any friends, family or sponsors watching us.
“Today there were a bunch of people from both sides to celebrate and be all together. That made it extra special for me but both gold medals are very important to us.
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“You have Grand Slams four times a year, while the Paralympics are once every four years. This is the same as 16 Grand Slams really. It’s definitely very special. Every match has had a packed stadium and it’s just been amazing to take that all in.”
While they are celebrating together this evening, Schroder and Vink will be on opposite sides of the net tomorrow when the duo contest the quad singles final. For now, however, Vink was happy to echo Schroder's sentiements.
“This one is the most special one,” said Vink. “It’s only once in four years and the Grand Slams are four times a year. Winning a Grand Slam is also very special, but this one is so much more special.
“We both want to win, and we need each other for it. It doesn’t matter if one drops down, the other one is bringing more energy for the other one. We correct each other, support each other and that’s what I really like.”
The showdown, meanwhile, proved to be the last act of Lapthorne’s Paralympic career. The 33-year-old, who now has three Paralympic silver medals and a bronze to his name, announced that Paris 2024 will be his last Paralympics.
It brings the curtain down on a Paralympic career with began at London 2012 when he won quad doubles silver alongside Peter Norfolk, while further success followed in the shadow of Christ the Redeemer in Rio in 2016.
“This will be my last Paralympic match and it’s bittersweet,” said Lapthorne, who confirmed that he would continue to compete on the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour for the time being.
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“It’s been such an amazing journey, and this week has topped it off with the crowd, the reactions, the moments and the vibes. You feel you’re going to do this forever but then wake up and realise it is the time and you want to leave it – it feels weird.
“It’s been an emotional 24 hours but I’m proud to have won another medal. Four Paralympic medals is not to be sniffed at but it’s time for me to leave this part of my career behind.
“I’m sad in a way but I’m also glad that I got to leave on my own terms. I’ve left it on Centre Court at a Grand Slam venue in front of a huge crowd. I have loved every single minute of it.”
Someone at the other end of their wheelchair tennis journey is Slade, with the 22-year-old making his Paralympic debut here in Paris. He departs with a silver medal and plenty of accolades and incentives for the future.
“There are some mixed emotions immediately following the match," said Slade. "We knew going into it today that the match was going to be tough. They are the best team in the world, but I am disappointed we couldn’t put up more of a fight.
"However, given a little more time to reflect on my journey personally to this point and our journey as a team, I am sure I will be delighted that this my first Games and I have come away with a medal. That’s mid-blowing.”