Aniek Van Koot Bio
Aniek Van Koot (born 15 August 1990) is a Dutch wheelchair tennis player who reached the world No. 1 ranking in both singles and doubles during her career. Over the years she has collected 26 major titles, a haul that includes Grand Slam singles crowns at the 2013 Australian Open, the 2013 US Open, and the 2019 Wimbledon Championships, alongside 23 Grand Slam doubles titles won with several different partners. She has also won five Paralympic medals, establishing herself as one of the most decorated Dutch athletes in the sport. Her career has been defined by consistency, tactical intelligence, and the ability to perform at the biggest events on the calendar.
Born in Winterswijk, Netherlands, Van Koot began playing wheelchair tennis as a child and quickly rose through the junior ranks before breaking through on the senior tour. Her career has included long partnerships with Jiske Griffioen and Diede de Groot, two of the most successful pairings in modern wheelchair tennis. She is widely respected for her competitive spirit and her role in raising the profile of wheelchair tennis around the world.
Early Life and Background
Aniek van Koot was born in Winterswijk, a town in the eastern Netherlands, on 15 August 1990. She was born with her right leg shorter than her left, and after a series of unsuccessful corrective operations, she eventually had her right leg amputated. The procedure did not slow her down, and she discovered wheelchair tennis at the age of 10, an introduction that would shape the rest of her life.
Growing up in the Netherlands, Van Koot had access to a strong wheelchair sports infrastructure, and she took to the sport quickly. By her early teenage years she was already competing in international junior events, winning titles in Sydney and Nottingham during the 2007 season. She was also part of the Netherlands team that reached the final of the Junior World Team Cup, signaling her arrival as one of the most promising young players in the game.
Path to Wheelchair Tennis
Van Koot’s rise through the senior ranks was steady and well-paced. In 2006, she began collecting doubles titles, winning in Livorno with Korie Homan and in Jesolo with Annick Sevenans, before finishing third at the year-end Masters alongside Walraven. The following year she added junior titles in Sydney and Nottingham, and a senior title in Gross Siegharts, while also reaching finals at Hilton Head, Atlanta, and Sardinia.
By 2008, Van Koot had established herself as a regular on the international circuit, winning a singles title in Prague and doubles titles in Christchurch and Sardinia with Jiske Griffioen. Her first major Grand Slam breakthrough in doubles came at the 2010 French Open, and she continued adding to her resume over the next two seasons, reaching Grand Slam finals in singles and winning multiple titles in doubles with Griffioen. This period of consistent results laid the foundation for her ascent to the top of the world rankings in 2013.
Aniek Van Koot Career
Early Career (2006-2010)
Van Koot’s early senior years were spent learning the tour and testing herself against the best players in the world. In 2006 she won doubles titles in Livorno and Jesolo, and by 2008 she had captured her first senior singles title in Prague. She also began a productive doubles partnership with Jiske Griffioen, with the pair winning titles in Christchurch and Sardinia during the 2008 season.
Her development continued in 2009 and 2010, when she reached finals in Boca Raton and Roland Garros and won titles in Pensacola, Olot, Jambes, and Prague. In 2010 she reached No. 1 in the doubles rankings on 26 July, confirming her status as one of the elite doubles players in the sport. These years gave her the experience and confidence needed to compete regularly at the business end of Grand Slam events.
Grand Slam Breakthrough (2011-2013)
The 2011 season was a busy one for Van Koot, with singles titles in Adelaide, Paris, Geneva, Jambes, and Salzburg, and a runner-up finish at the US Open. Partnering Griffioen in doubles, the pair won titles in Sydney, Pensacola, Boca Raton, Paris, Nottingham, and St. Louis, although they finished as runners-up at all four Grand Slams that year. In 2012, Van Koot won her first Grand Slam doubles title at Wimbledon with Griffioen and also claimed a silver medal at the London Paralympics in both singles and doubles.
The 2013 season was the defining year of her career. Van Koot won her first Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open, reached the final of the French Open, and won the US Open singles title as well. With Griffioen, she completed the calendar year Grand Slam in doubles, winning the Australian, French, Wimbledon, and US Open titles. By the end of the year she was named the 2013 ITF Wheelchair World Champion, capping one of the most remarkable seasons in the history of the sport.
Wimbledon Triumph and Continued Excellence (2014-2019)
After missing the start of the 2014 season through injury, Van Koot dropped to No. 2 in the singles rankings, but she returned strongly with titles in Bolton, Pensacola, and Johannesburg, and she won the year-end Masters singles title. She continued to add Grand Slam doubles titles over the next several years, often partnering Griffioen and later Diede de Groot.
Her second Grand Slam singles title came at Wimbledon in 2019, a victory that confirmed her place among the all-time greats of the sport. That same year she completed her second calendar year Grand Slam in doubles, this time with Diede de Groot, winning the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open titles. Her versatility in both singles and doubles, and her success with multiple partners, made her one of the most accomplished players of her generation.
Paralympic Career (2012-2020)
Van Koot made her Paralympic debut at London 2012, where she won silver medals in both singles and doubles, partnering Griffioen. Four years later at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, she added a silver medal in singles and a gold medal in doubles, once again alongside Griffioen. At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, Van Koot and Diede de Groot teamed up to win the doubles gold medal, completing a memorable Paralympic journey that yielded three gold and two silver medals across three Games.
Driving Style and Strengths
Van Koot is known for her tactical intelligence, consistent baseline game, and ability to adapt to different surfaces and partners. Her doubles play has been particularly strong, with her calm demeanor at the net and sharp court coverage allowing her to build long and successful partnerships. In singles, her movement in the chair and ability to change pace have made her a difficult opponent on any surface.
Notable Events and Milestones
Her career highlights include two calendar year Grand Slams in doubles, in 2013 with Griffioen and in 2019 with de Groot, three Grand Slam singles titles, and seven doubles titles at the year-end Masters. She also reached the world No. 1 ranking in both singles and doubles during her career, and was named the 2013 ITF Wheelchair World Champion.
Aniek Van Koot Career Wins
Across her career, Aniek Van Koot has accumulated 26 major titles, including three Grand Slam singles titles and 23 Grand Slam doubles titles. Her wins have come at all four Grand Slam events, on every major surface, and in partnership with several of the sport’s leading players.
Grand Slam Highlights
Van Koot’s first Grand Slam singles title came at the 2013 Australian Open, followed by the 2013 US Open and the 2019 Wimbledon Championships. In doubles, she has won the Australian Open seven times, the French Open nine times, Wimbledon three times, and the US Open four times, with partners including Jiske Griffioen and Diede de Groot. Her two calendar year Grand Slams, in 2013 and 2019, are among the most remarkable achievements in wheelchair tennis history.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the Grand Slams, Van Koot has won the year-end Masters singles title in 2014 and the Masters doubles title seven times, in 2010, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022. She has also won numerous titles at ITF series events around the world, including victories in Pensacola, Bolton, Johannesburg, Paris, and Adelaide.
Aniek Van Koot Family
Personal Life
Aniek van Koot was born with her right leg shorter than her left, and after several corrective operations that did not succeed, she had her right leg amputated. She began playing wheelchair tennis at the age of 10, and the sport quickly became the central focus of her life. She has spent much of her career based in the Netherlands, traveling the international wheelchair tennis circuit for more than two decades.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season saw Aniek Van Koot continue to compete at the highest level of wheelchair tennis. She reached the final of the French Open in singles, her fourth appearance in a Roland Garros singles final, underlining her enduring quality on clay. In doubles, she added another French Open doubles title to her collection, taking her total at that event to nine and further extending her status as one of the most successful doubles players in the history of the sport.
Van Koot entered the year ranked No. 6 in singles and No. 3 in doubles, and her results throughout the season reflected a player still capable of competing with the leading names on tour. Her partnerships in doubles continued to produce strong results, and her experience remained a major asset in the biggest matches. She has spoken in the past about her desire to keep playing and contributing to the growth of wheelchair tennis, and her 2025 campaign suggested she still had more to offer the sport.
Looking ahead, Van Koot is expected to remain a fixture on the international wheelchair tennis circuit, with the Paralympic Games and Grand Slam events continuing to provide her with the biggest targets. Her legacy, already secure, continues to grow with every match she plays, and her 2025 results added another strong chapter to one of the most distinguished careers in the history of Dutch wheelchair tennis.