Jiske, Reid named Wheelchair World Champions
15.12.2016The two Paralympic singles gold medallists received the honours following their outstanding performances in 2016.
Jiske Griffioen competes at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
© • Al Tielemans for OIS/IOC
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has announced that the Netherlands’ Jiske Griffioen and Great Britain’s Gordon Reid have been named the women and men’s 2016 ITF Wheelchair World Champions, respectively.
Griffioen earned the honour for the second year running following a dominating year that saw her win women’s singles gold medal at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, as well as the doubles gold with partner Aniek van Koot.
Reid received the title for the first time following one of the best years of his career that included the men’s singles Paralympic gold in Rio.
"It's a great honour for me to complete the best year of my career by finishing year-end No.1 for the first time."
The ITF World Champions will receive their awards at the 2017 ITF World Champions Dinner on 6 June, in Paris, France, during Roland Garros.
Griffioen is the only athlete to repeat ITF World Champion in 2016. The 31-year-old captured two of the three Grand Slam singles titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and went on to win two gold medals at Rio 2016. She finished 2016 with victory at the NEC Masters and held the No. 1 ranking throughout the year.
Griffioen said: "It was an incredible year for me! To win two Grand Slam titles, the Masters and be on top of the rankings for the whole year is something I'm proud of for sure. And my dream of winning two gold medals at the Paralympics in Rio came true. All the hard work paid off.”
Reid had an outstanding year to become the first British player named Wheelchair World Champion and one of three British players honoured in 2016. The 25-year-old won his first two Grand Slam singles titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and was also runner-up at Roland Garros. He clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking by reaching the final of the NEC Masters.
Reid said: "It's a great honour for me to complete the best year of my career by finishing year-end No.1 for the first time. I can't thank all of my coaching team, family and friends enough for all their dedication and support, which was a vital part of my 2016 successes."
