Esther Vergeer, Shingo Kunieda, Dylan Alcott, Diede de Groot. This is the esteemed company Sam Schroder joined on Saturday afternoon.
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Schroder defeated Niels Vink 7-6(7) 7-5 – Schroder’s doubles partner between 2018 and 2024, and greatest rival – to win his fourth consecutive Australian Open quad wheelchair singles crown. The 25-year-old also regains the world No.1 mantle after Vink, his fellow countrymen, broke his seven-month reign atop the rankings last week.
The Dutchman’s sustained success sees him join the aforementioned group as the only people to win four successive wheelchair singles titles at Melbourne Park.
Australian Open 2025 could arguably be his greatest Grand Slam triumph. Schroder has been without a coach for seven weeks after he parted ways with long-time coach Joop Broens.
“It’s very special for me once again having won a tournament,” he said. “After the first one, you want the second one. Unbelievable to have won the fourth one. It’s really crazy when I think about it.
“I think winning a Grand Slam is always very special. I think for me, after the last few months, it’s been quite rough. Really just proud of myself that I’ve been able to show this level this week. I think that ultimately made it extra special for me.”
Down 5-1 in the opening set, Schroder saved a set point and won the next five games en route to claiming the first set in a tiebreak.
Vink launched a comeback of his own as he broke Schroder while serving for the match at 5-3.
The 22-year-old saved three match points in the second set, but a fourth proved too much as Schroder further solidified his name in the record books.
“I knew I was making too many unforced errors, and I had to be more solid. At the same time not just playing everything back but also trying to go for my shots,” he said about how he got back into the match.
“It comes down to me knowing that I have to keep fighting for every point. I think that somehow got me through it.”
Schroder is now on the heels of Alcott’s record of seven Australian Open quad wheelchair singles titles – something the world No.1 has in his sights.
“I’m not sure if anyone knows what Dylan’s record is here, but hopefully, I’ll be able to break that one day.”