In this episode of Flame Bearers, guest host Dana Mathewson chats with Dutch wheelchair tennis player Aniek Van Koot, former world No. 1 in both singles and doubles. The two friends and former competitors reminisce about past tournaments, break down the differences between the U.S. Open, Wimbledon and more. Aniek reveals what helps her keep a positive, healthy mindset, and why she hopes more people will not only learn about wheelchair tennis, but also fall in love with it the way she she did.
——–
Flame Bearers is a women’s sports storytelling studio, championing extraordinary athletes and driving conversations around equality, leadership, and high performance. We’ve collaborated with 450+ Olympians and Paralympians from 55 countries—including Hilary Knight, Sue Bird, Caster Semenya, and Amber Glenn— and have earned 28 international awards for capturing raw human journeys of resilience, confidence, and mental health. Through video, podcasting, events, and social media, we spotlight the athlete’s story behind the scoreboards, in her own words.