Esther Vergeer was at the US Open in New York City to showcase her biography, Fierce & Vulnerable, during the United States Tennis Association Membership Appreciation Day.

Ending her career on a 470-match winning streak that spanned January 2003 to last year, the Dutchwoman has 42 Grand Slam titles across singles and doubles and 22 year-end Championships.

She also has seven Paralympic gold medals, including singles and doubles titles at London 2012.

Vergeer had three internal hemorrhages and ended up on an operating table at the age of eight, as a result of a blood vessel defect.

After the third operation she woke up without sensation in her lower legs and ended up in a wheelchair.

Having played wheelchair tennis and wheelchair basketball as a youngster, Vergeer chose tennis as a career and won the unofficial World Championships at the age of 17, a title she went on to retain 13 times in a row.

Esther Vergeer has twice won the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability award - in 2002 and 2008 ©Getty Images for Laureus



Off the court, she started the Esther Vergeer Foundation, and In 2002 and 2008 she won the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability award.

"It's wonderful, I'm truly honoured that it finally occurred at such an amazing platform as the US Open," said Vergeer at the launch of her biography.

"This is the worldwide kick-off I hoped for, the kick-off for my mission to ensure that worldwide, every disabled child will have a chance.

"A chance to develop through sport."

Roger Federer, the most successful men's tennis player in Grand Slam history, said: "She is an amazing athlete, a huge personality and she has achieved one of the most remarkable things in our sport: 470 consecutive wins, unbelievable.

"I have a lot of admiration for what she's done."