Diede De Groot Exit Creates Opportunities for Emerging Wheelchair Tennis Talent

Diede De Groot’s exit from Roland Garros opens exciting opportunities for emerging wheelchair tennis talent. As this year’s tournament unfolds, the growth in wheelchair tennis popularity becomes increasingly evident. 🌟

Diede De Groot’s Unexpected Exit

In a surprising twist, Diede De Groot, the four-time Roland-Garros defending champion, faced an unexpected defeat. China’s Li Xiaohui triumphed over De Groot in the first round of the women’s wheelchair singles with a score of 6-2, 6-4. Notably, Li had previously ended De Groot’s 145-match winning streak last May at the World Team Cup in Turkey.

Most importantly, De Groot was making her Grand Slam return following hip surgery after the Paralympic Games. She entered Roland-Garros 2025 with a remarkable 52-match winning streak in major tournaments, having claimed 15 consecutive Grand Slam titles from the 2021 Australian Open to Wimbledon last year. This defeat marked her first major loss since the 2020 Roland-Garros.

Emerging Wheelchair Tennis Talent

Therefore, is this a sign of a new era in wheelchair tennis? Perhaps not entirely, yet emerging wheelchair tennis talent is certainly making its mark. Players like the Netherlands’ Lizzy De Greef and France’s Ksenia Chasteau are rising stars, with the boys’ and girls’ championships at Roland-Garros providing pathways to the senior draws.

Because Ksenia Chasteau is a 19-year-old rising star, she has already made headlines. Last year, she won the girls’ title in Paris. On Tuesday, she competed in her first Grand Slam main draw. “The juniors are behind me now. I’m fully focused on ITF tournaments and I hope to compete in the next three Grand Slams,” she stated in an interview with Roland-Garros Magazine. Chasteau secured her first match victory, defeating compatriot Charlotte Fairbank 7-5, 6-2.

Elsewhere, tournament results followed expectations. No.1 seed Tokito Oda triumphed over French hopeful Stephane Houdet on a breezy Court 14. Despite a late challenge from Houdet, the Paralympic gold medallist and defending champion advanced with a 6-3, 7-5 win.

Meanwhile, second seed Alfie Hewett comfortably won his opening match against Chile’s Alexander Cataldo, dropping just one game. Spanish No.3 seed Martin de la Puente also progressed, being one of only two winners in the men’s first round who required three sets.

Wheelchair Tennis Popularity Growth

The expansion of the men’s and women’s wheelchair draws to 16 participants each in 2023 reflects the sport’s growing popularity and visibility. Despite the relatively small pool of players, the close-knit nature of the community brings both advantages and challenges to the tournaments.

“It’s a positive thing and a negative thing,” said Ruben Spaargaren from the Netherlands. “We know each other very well, which means everyone knows what to expect from their opponents. It’s always a challenge to find new strategies each week.”

Spaargaren won his first-round match against Belgium’s Joachim Gerard and will face De La Puente in the semi-finals.

In a testament to the sport’s increasing popularity, three matches are scheduled at the start of the day on Court Suzanne-Lenglen on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. 🎾