Refreshingly honest Schroder unafraid to talk up chances of twin gold
Dutchman Sam Schroder does not tend to mince his words nor shy away from saying what is on his mind. Those traits were in evidence once more following the draw for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Event.
Every player who takes to the court at Roland Garros when the Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Event gets underway on Friday will do so with the express ambition of winning gold – or at least going as far as they can. That is a given.
But very few will talk so candidly about how prepared they feel to launch an assault on the Paris 2024 podiums and claim gold at an event which usually only happens once every four years.
Schroder undoubtedly has the tools to do so given he is the world’s top-ranked singles player in the quad division and trails only Niels Vink – his good friend – in the doubles rankings. Nevertheless, it remains refreshing to hear such openness in interviews.
Gelseen-born Schroder was speaking after the draw which saw him receive a bye for the opening round of the quad singles, with Brazil’s Leandro Pena or Donald Ramphadi of South Africa his opponent in the quarter-finals.
The 24-year-old will be partnered, as always, by Vink in the quad doubles as they bid to win back-to-back golds after topping the podium together at Tokyo 2020. The duo have received a bye to the semi-finals.
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“It is nice to finally see the draw,” said Schroder. “I have prepared for the Paralympics for so long now so when you get to see the draw, it means it is happening.
“At the Paralympics, anything can happen. There can be upsets but I have prepared really well and I am really excited to get going – and I have a good feeling about it. Nothing is guaranteed but I have golds to go for and that’s what I will do.”
Schroder was born with split hand/split food syndrome, while shortly after celebrating his 18th birthday he was diagnosed with colon cancer.
He endured a draining five-week period of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and required the use of a feeding tube, before undergoing surgery in March 2018 to have his colon removed.
With that context, Schroder's emergence since as a wheelchair tennis star is staggering. He arrives at the Paralympics following a season in which he has claimed two Grand Slam singles titles – at the Australian Open and here at Roland Garros – and doubles titles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
“I have a good confidence about my level right now,” he added. “Tennis-wise, mentally and physically – it is all good. The Paralympics are also extra special and they definitely motivate me to do my best, but also to have fun.
“I am excited to see the number of people coming to watch. Playing in front of big crowds always motivates me to try harder and make people see what wheelchair tennis is all about.
“In some ways you try not to think about it too much, but gold in singles and doubles is definitely the goal. Hopefully it will happen but, if it doesn’t, it’s okay – life goes on. But I am ready.”