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Sweet streaks
Esther Vergeer
Winner of 444 wheelchair tennis matches in a row.
You probably haven't heard of her, but Vergeer is one of the world's most dominant athletes. The 30-year-old Dutchwoman has been ranked No. 1 in her sport since 1999, and she was 21 the last time she lost a singles match, in 2003. But it hasn't all been smooth sailing. Back when the streak hit 200, expectations began to weigh on her. "I was afraid of losing," says Vergeer, who became a paraplegic at age 8 following complications from spinal surgery. "The expectations were so high." A sports psychologist helped her to rediscover her focus and joy. "It's weird to think nobody's found a way to beat me," she says. "I'd know how to beat me." But after 444 consecutive wins, she's not about to tell.
