ITF

win men's World Group II and earn promotion to the World Group for the 2014 BNP Paribas World Team Cup in Alphen, Netherlands. In 2013 the Wheelchair Tennis Development Fund (WTDF) celebrated 10 years of funding from the Johan Cruyff Foundation. To mark the anniversary Vergeer joined the Cruyff Foundation on a week-long trip to South Africa, one of the first countries to be supported by the WTDF. The WTDF's work in developing countries was recognised in May when it won the project category at the SportAccord Spirit of Sport Awards, with ITF Vice President Juan Margets receiving the award on behalf of the ITF. By 2013, 39 countries had benefitted from the work of the WTDF. The 2013 season also brought NEC's 22 year run as title sponsor of the Wheelchair Tennis Tour to an end, but it remains as an Official Partner of the 2014 Tour, as well as title sponsor of the Wheelchair Tennis Masters. ITF WHEELCHAIR TENNIS CIRCUIT On the back of the most successful Paralympic Games ever in London, 2013 was another ground-breaking year for wheelchair tennis. The year witnessed historic performances from some of the world's elite and unprecedented recognition at grassroots level, while the sport said farewell to its most celebrated player as Esther Vergeer retired. The women's game changed immeasurably when Vergeer announced her retirement in February, just 13 days after celebrating 10 years unbeaten. The 13-time ITF Wheelchair World Champion departed after 169 career singles titles and ended on a winning streak of 470 matches and 120 tournaments, her last defeat came against Australian Daniela di Toro in Sydney on 30 January 2003. Dutchwoman Aniek van Koot and Germany's Sabine Ellerbrock dominated the Grand Slams in 2013, collecting their first titles at Australia and Roland Garros respectively. Van Koot went on to beat Ellerbrock in the US Open women's final, a victory that earned her the ITF World Champion accolade for the first time, despite missing the year-end NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters due to tendonitis. Shingo Kunieda became ITF World Champion for the fifth time after retaining his NEC Masters title, but the Australian Open champion was defeated by world No. 2 Stephane Houdet in the finals at both Roland Garros and the US Open. South Africa's Lucas Sithole became the first African to win a Grand Slam wheelchair tennis title with victory over American David Wagner in the US Open final. Sithole was the only player to beat Wagner in 2013 – a feat he achieved on four occasions – as Wagner became the year-end No.1 quad player for the sixth time. Mission Viejo in Southern California hosted the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters and ITF Wheelchair Doubles Masters as both events were held jointly for the first time since 2002. On home soil Wagner won his sixth NEC Masters quad title before partnering fellow American Nick Taylor to win the Doubles Masters. History was made when Japanese 19-year- old Yui Kamiji beat 2012 champion Jiske Griffioen to become the first non-Dutch women's champion in the event's 20-year history. Kamiji also partnered Britain's Jordanne Whiley to the women's Doubles Masters title, while Houdet partnered Britain's Gordon Reid to lift the men's trophy. The BNP Paribas World Team Cup was held in Antalya, Turkey for the second time. France retained the men's trophy, Netherlands won the women's event for the 26th time, while USA regained the quad title and Great Britain emerged victorious in the junior competition. Australia justified its top seeding to 26 Women's World Team Cup titles won by Netherlands 26 DEVELOPMENT: ITF WHEELCHAIR TENNIS CIRCUIT 27 The Wheelchair Tennis Development Fund's work was recognised when it won the project category at the SportAccord Spirit of Sport Awards.

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