ITF

34 Winter 2020 ITF World the world's top-ranked junior, and positioned No. 6 in the quad division, when the cancer bombshell hit. "I don't really remember much from that period because I was very ill at the time," he added. "When I first got diagnosed, I was preparing to play the Masters for the first time. I was going to be one of the youngest players ever to play there and I was so excited but, unfortunately, it couldn't happen. "One of the first things I talked about with the doctor was how we were going to make sure that, when I got through treatment and was better, I was able to play tennis again. "At the time, I was ranked No. 6 in the world. When I came back in the summer of 2018, I had dropped down to around No. 40. I just had to pick everything back up again, start playing tournaments and begin winning again. Things have gone from there." That is something of an understatement. In mid-September, the left-hander, who was a wild card for the event, stunned two- time champion and serial trophy-winner Dylan Alcott to claim the US Open Quad Wheelchair title. In-keeping with the narrative of his life and times, extraordinarily, but in many ways unsurprisingly, Schroder achieved the feat on his maiden Grand Slam appearance and only days before his 21st birthday. He also recovered from a severe beating from Alcott in the the hospital, having surgery to try and correct hands and feet and attempt to grow and extend bones just to make life easier and less painful. "I have had a lot of surgeries – over 30 now – and most of those are on bones, cutting out or rearranging them basically, so I spent a lot of my youth in hospital beds and I missed a lot of school. "It was incredibly difficult at times and I definitely had a different than usual youth. But, as with my cancer treatment, I came out of it really strong and learned a lot about life." Despite the difficulties he encountered during his formative years, Schroder was determined that his condition would not prevent him playing sport and enjoying all the associated benefits that brings. Several parasports were attempted including basketball, hockey and handcycling, but one lesson of wheelchair tennis had Schroder hooked and it proved the gateway to a new world which he barely knew existed. Starting with short hour-long sessions conducted by Joop Broens, who remains his coach to this day, Schroder showcased early promise and talent, from where his wheelchair tennis career progressed rapidly. By 2014, he was competing internationally and won bronze with the Dutch youth team at the BNP Paribas World Team Cup. From there, his development continued and Schroder was WHEELCHAIR "After everything I have been through, I am so mentally strong, and 90 per cent of tennis during a match is being mentally strong as a player." Below It was a Grand Slam debut to remember for the Dutchman

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