Esther Vergeer wipes away a tear after announcing her retirement from wheelchair tennis at a press conference in Rotterdam, where she is a director of an able-bodied men's tournament.
End of an era —
Esther Vergeer wipes away a tear after announcing her retirement from wheelchair tennis at a press conference in Rotterdam, where she is a director of an able-bodied men's tournament.
Vergeer with the Dutch tournament's defending champion Roger Federer at the opening ceremony on February 11, marking its 40th anniversary
Rotterdam retirement —
Vergeer with the Dutch tournament's defending champion Roger Federer at the opening ceremony on February 11, marking its 40th anniversary
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Vergeer retired undefeated in the past 10 years, having won 470 consecutive matches.
Wheelchair tennis queen —
Vergeer retired undefeated in the past 10 years, having won 470 consecutive matches.
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She won four successive gold medals in the Paralympics singles tournament, 21 grand slams and 13 world titles.
Glittering career —
She won four successive gold medals in the Paralympics singles tournament, 21 grand slams and 13 world titles.
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However, she fell short of the record 555 successive wins set between 1981-86 by Pakistani squash legend Jahangir Khan, pictured left in an exhibition against his former rival Jansher Khan in 2005.
Jahangir's record —
However, she fell short of the record 555 successive wins set between 1981-86 by Pakistani squash legend Jahangir Khan, pictured left in an exhibition against his former rival Jansher Khan in 2005.
FAROOQ NAEEM/AFP/Getty Images/file
Australian squash player Heather McKay suffered only two defeats in her career before going undefeated from 1962-1981, but there are no exact records of her match statistics.
Unbeatable Aussie —
Australian squash player Heather McKay suffered only two defeats in her career before going undefeated from 1962-1981, but there are no exact records of her match statistics.
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Martina Navratilova holds the Open-era able-bodied tennis record of 74 consecutive wins, set in 1984.
Czech champion —
Martina Navratilova holds the Open-era able-bodied tennis record of 74 consecutive wins, set in 1984.
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Argentina's Guillermo Vilas holds the men's record of 46 successive wins, set in 1977 when he won seven tournaments in a row as he reached No. 2 in the world rankings
Clay specialist —
Argentina's Guillermo Vilas holds the men's record of 46 successive wins, set in 1977 when he won seven tournaments in a row as he reached No. 2 in the world rankings
STF/AFP/Getty Images/file