How does Netherlands keep producing top wheelchair tennis players?

While it is very much a global game, if there is one nation synonymous with wheelchair tennis success then it is Netherlands – and their prowess was once again showcased at the BNP Paribas World Team Cup in Vilamoura, Portugal.

On Sunday, Netherlands claimed their eighth BNP Paribas World Team Cup men's title, which built on the nation's quad success 24 hours earlier, although there was to be no repeat of the clean sweep they secured in Sardinia last year as their women's team suffered a shock defeat to Japan in their final. 

Despite this setback, Netherlands' women's team has an incredibly impressive World Team Cup record, chalking up a remarkable 32 titles and failing to top the podium on just four occasions since 1986.

Such supremacy is also reflected outside of the team game, with Diede de Groot a 26-time Grand Slam champion across singles and doubles, having enjoyed a stunning 2021 campaign.

De Groot has seemingly taken the Dutch baton from the great Esther Vergeer, who was once billed as the world’s most dominant athlete – with huge justification after winning 44 Grand Slam titles and in the final 10 years of her career losing just 18 sets.

Aniek van Koot, Jiske Griffioen and Marjolein Buis have also won Grand Slam singles titles, while on the men’s side Tom Egberink won silver at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and will have designs on further accolades.

The quad section is also well stocked with talent. Sam Schroder was crowned US Open champion in 2020, with he and Niels Vink winning quad doubles gold at last year’s Paralympic Games.

This brief synopsis only begins to scratch the surface of history, although one thing is for sure, Netherlands is a nation which produces supremely talented wheelchair tennis players. But how do they keep doing so?