Vergeer (pictured above), who has not been beaten for nine years, will face a tough test to keep her gold from compatriots Aniek van Koot and Jiske Griffioen, who are second and third seeds respectively.

Van Koot takes on Australia's Janel Manns in her first game, with Griffioen facing Natália Mayara Azvedo da Costa of Brazil.

Germany's Sabine Ellerbrock (pictured below), the fourth seed, broke into the top four this year after winning the Japan Open and takes on Christine Schoenn of France.

Another Dutchwoman, Marjolein Buis, starts her tournament against Thailand's Ratana Techamaneewat, while Britain's Lucy Shuker faces Italy's Marianna Lauro in her opener.

Australia's Daniela di Toro, the only player here in London aside from Vergeer to have claimed a medal of any colour at a previous Paralympics, and also the last player to have beaten the near invincible Dutchwoman in 2003, takes on Angélica Bernal Villalobos of Colombia.

Every women's singles gold medal to date in wheelchair tennis has been won by Dutchwomen.

After the draw, Vergeer told insideworldparasport she would take the competition round by round, and was aware of the threat Domori would pose.

"I am very excited that it is finally beginning, we have worked for so hard and so long to prepare," she said.


"There are players I have met before, and with the people on my side, it is going to be a tough one.

"I will take this tournament round by round.

"First round I play Domori from Japan, I have played her before, I am confident I can play well so yeah, let's see!"

In the women's doubles, Shuker and Jordanne Whiley have been given a bye to the quarter-finals, as have Vergeer and Buis, Griffioen and Van Koot, and Japanese pair Domori and Yui Kamiji.

Peter Norfolk, Britain's quad singles double gold medallist who has yet to drop a set at a Paralympic Games, looks to make it three in a row this week and begins his tournament against Japan's Mitsuteru Moroishi.

Noam Gershony of Israel, Norfolk's main rival for gold, who has enjoyed a superb 2012 so far, faces another Briton, Jamie Burdekin.

America's David Wagner, the first seed for the draw, begins against South Africa's Lucas Sithole.

Wagner won silver in Athens and bronze in Beijing four years' ago.

Britain's Andy Lapthorne, the fourth seed, begins against Swede Anders Hard.

Lapthorne and Norfolk received a bye to the semi finals of the quad doubles tournament, as did Wagner and the American Nicholas Taylor.


Norfolk (pictured above, front), who was Britain's flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony on Wednesday (August 29), is aiming to pick up his first doubles gold medal.

Israeli duo Gershony and Shraga Weinberg face Sweden's Hard and Marcus Jonsson in their quarter-final.

Highlights of the men's singles draw include reigning Paralympic champion Shingo Kunieda of Japan being drawn to face Brazil's Rafael Medeiros Gomes, who will hope to become the first player in history to win two men's singles titles at these Games.

The man who ended his three year unbeaten run in 2010, number one seed Stéphane Houdet of France, will take on Thailand's Suthi Khlongrua.

Houdet's fellow Frenchman, Michael Jeremiasz, is one to watch after he began 2012 with a 20 match unbeaten run; he plays Chile's Diego Perez in the first round.

Dutchman Maikel Scheffers begins against Poland's Tadeusz Kruszelnicki, and Scheffers' compatriot Ronald Vink will take on Suwitchai Merngprom of Thailand.

Gustavo Fernandez of Argentina begins his quest to win his country's first ever Paralympic wheelchair tennis medal when he faces Italian Fabian Mazzei.

The highest ranked Briton, ninth seed Gordon Reid, will face Japan's Takuya Miki.

Houdet (pictured below, right) and Jeremiasz have been given a bye to the second round of the men's doubles, as have their compatriots Frederic Cattaneo and Nicolas Peifer (pictured below, left).

Dutch pairs Scheffers and Tom Egberink, and Robin Ammerlaan and Vink, also advance straight to the last 16.

There are 112 players from 31 countries in London competing for singles and doubles glory in the women's, men's and quad tournaments.

The wheelchair tennis takes place from tomorrow to September 8 at the only venue ever specifically built for the Paralympic Games at Eton Manor .


That, according to International Tennis Federation (ITF) President Francesco Ricci Bitti, is a crucial piece of legacy for London.

"We are delighted that this event is growing," Ricci Bitti said here today.

"This is the first specific venue for the Paralympic Games.

"This is very important for us because it ensures a great tournament for the next week but also a good legacy for this part of London, in need of tennis facilities."

International Paralympic Committee (IPC) chief executive Xavier Gonzales praised the ITF's work and said that he was looking forward to an exciting tournament over the next week.

"The International Tennis Federation has done a superb job in growing this sport.

"Wheelchair tennis at the Paralympics has an excellent track record of producing spectacular matches.

"Who can forget in Beijing when Esther Vergeer came from 5-3 and match point down to secure a Paralympic gold medal.

"I am confident the competition here will continue to deliver thrilling sporting action."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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