Vergeer (pictured top) is arguably the most commanding woman in any sport, Paralympic or otherwise, thanks to her incredible unbeaten record, which stretches to 465 matches and includes 20 Grand Slam titles.

The 31-year-old's last defeat came in 2003 when she lost to Australia's Daniela di Toro (pictured below) – who will also be competing for singles gold in London – and Vergeer is this week aiming to win a fourth successive Paralympic title.

The Dutchwoman has been drawn to face Japan's Kanako Domori in the opening round of the singles, an event she dominates completely.

No-one from outside the Netherlands has ever claimed a Paralympic gold medal in the women's singles and Vergeer's compatriots, Aniek van Koot and Jiske Griffioen, will provide her biggest competition this week.

Explaining how she has kept herself motivated through such a long unbeaten run, Vergeer said: "The main key is the fire inside.

"I love tennis and just exploring what there is to do to improve.

"I see improvement in my tennis game on and off court.


"Every time I train that gives me so much energy that I want to keep working.

"I am a perfectionist and I love to give 100 per cent."

Not only is Vergeer undefeated in nine years but her defeat to di Toro in 2003 was her only loss in the last 13 years, when she was beaten by the same player as an 18-year-old.

This year she has so far played 32 games on the singles tour, dropping just one set – a feat that had not previously happened since 2009.

Her rivals on the tour will not be pleased to hear that Vergeer has no plans to give up the sport anytime soon.

"To be honest, I am not thinking about that," she said.

"My goal is to win a gold medal here, but let's see what comes after that.

"Maybe that will be Rio [in 2016].

"I do not know!"

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