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Norfolk and Wagner reach Japan Quad final
After winning the last four Japan Open Quad Main Draw Singles finals between them, Peter
Norfolk (GBR) and David Wagner (USA) will contest this year's final at the second Super
Series event of the 2008 NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour in Fukuoka.
World No 2 ranked Quad Norfolk, who chalked up a hat-trick of titles in Fukuoka between
2004 and 2006 before missing last year's event through injury, will attempt to regain the
title on Saturday after winning his semifinal on Friday against seventh seed Brent Poppen (USA) 63 61.
Story from the ITF website - 16th May 2008
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Weinberg Beats Norfolk in Pensacola Opener
Shraga Weinberg (ISR) upset second seed Peter Norfolk (GBR) during Wednesday's opening
day of play at the Pensacola Open, part of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour, in Florida.
Weinberg had shown he is in good form when taking world No 1 David Wagner (USA) to a final
set tiebreak at last week's Florida Open before Norfolk beat Wagner in the final. However,
the Briton was beaten by the better man on the day on Wednesday as Weinberg secured 64 62
victory for his first ever win over Norfolk in six career meetings between the two former
world No 1 quad players.
Story from the ITF website - 17th April 2008
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Norfolk Reclaims Florida Open Quad Title
Peter Nofolk (GBR) twice came from behind to beat defending champion David Wagner (USA)
in Saturday's Quad Main Draw Singles final at the Florida Open, part of the NEC Wheeklchair
Tennis Tour, while the top two seeds reached the finals in each of the Men's Main Draw Singles
and Women's Main Draw Singles.
After wins in 2004, 2005 and 2006, Norfolk had to work hard to clinch his fourth Quad title at
Boca Raton's prestigious ITF 1 Series event. Top seed Wagner won the last four games of the
first set to seize the advantage before Norfolk built upon a 31 lead in the second set to level
the match on his first set point.
With world No 2 ranked quad Norfolk struggling with his service game for much of the contest,
Wagner took a 40 lead at the beginning of the deciding set. However, with the American world
No 1 also starting to find the going tough in the heat, Norfolk found some form and some
superb returns of serve to come back to 34 before Wagner earned another beak to move within
one game of victory. However, he was unable to serve out the match and Norfolk launched
another comeback, eventually converting his first match point to seal a 26 63 75 triumph.
Story from the ITF website - 12th April 2008
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Norfolk lift's Australian Open title Again
The Quad Singles final was a rematch of the 2004 final in Melbourne and ended in the same
result as world No 2 Norfolk colleced his second Australian Open crown.
After a rain storm desended on Melbourne shortly after the Men's final, the Quad final
was delayed for half an hour. When the action did get underway a tense first set saw the
opening game go to five deuces, with world No 2 Wagner taking the early advantage before
Norfolk broke straight back. Norfolk's next two service games also went to deuce, but he
won the vital points to clinch them, also breaking Wagner in the fourth game to take a 41
lead. Norfolk maintained his advantage and went on to convert the first of two set points
in the eighth game.
Norfolk broke Wagner again in the fourth game of the second set, but the American broke
back once more and with Norfolk hindered by several double faults Wagner survived eight
deuces on his next service game to level the set at 33. However, Norfolk composed himself
and two games later he converted the first of two break points to give himself the
opportunity of serving for the match. Seconds later Norfolk had two match points, only needing
the first of them to seal victory.
Story from the ITF website - 25th January 2008
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Norfolk and Wagner reach Australian Open Quad Final
The world's top two ranked players, David Wagner (USA) and Peter Norfolk (GBR), have reached
Saturday's Quad Singles final at the Australian Wheelchair Tennis Open, the first Super Series
event of the 2008 NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour.
Top seed Wagner saw off his compatriot Brent Poppen (USA) 62 63 in his semifinal on Thursday,
while 2004 Australian Open champion Norfolk won the points that counted to defeat world No 3
Nck Taylor (USA) and set up rematch of the 2004 final.
Story from the ITF website - 23rd January 2008
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MBE Honour for Paralympic Tennis Champion Norfolk
Peter Norfolk, Great Britain's first ever Paralympic Tennis Champion, has been awarded an MBE in the
Queen's Birthday Honours List announced earlier today (Saturday, 11th June).
Norfolk won Gold in the Quad Singles, for players affected in three or more limbs, in Athens last September
before pairing up with fellow Briton Mark Eccleston to win Silver in the Quad Doubles.
The MBE is the latest accolade in a long list of honours, both on and off the court, for the 44-year-old player
from Fleet, Hampshire
In September 2003 Norfolk became the World No 1 Quad Singles player and remained at the top of the world rankings
until early February this year. Since February he has made two brief returns to the top of the rankings and is
currently the World No 2 ranked Quad. From the end of July 2003, Norfolk's 14-month unbeaten run included all
four events on the global NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour to have Super Series status, the equivalent of a Grand
Slam - the British Open, the US Open, the Australian Open and the Japan Open. He has only been beaten once
since the end of July 2003 and his second Japan Open success, in May this year, was his seventh Super Series
title in total. In 2001 and 2002 Norfolk also helped Team GB lift successive Quad titles in the Invacare World
Team Cup, the Davis and Fed Cups of wheelchair tennis.
His on court successes have also resulted in Norfolk picking up a string of prestigious awards off the court,
including winning the LTA Disabled Player of the the Year Award both as a team member and, for the last two
years, as an individual, twice being named BBC South Disabled Sportsman of the Year, and last year winning the
BBC South Sportsman of the Year award following a monumental year that culminated in his Gold medal in Athens.
The Briton was among a host of Olympic and Paralympic Tennis medallists honoured at the recent ITF World
Champions Dinner at Roland Garros during the French Open and on Sunday, 3rd July, Norfolk will conduct the
coin toss before the Men's Singles final at The Championships, Wimbledon.
Story from the BTF website - 13th June 2005
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Super Norfolk in Seventh Heaven in Japan
Athens Paralympic Gold medallist Peter Norfolk completed a successful defence of his Quad Singles title at
the Japan Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships in Iizuka on Saturday, defeating second seed Sarah Hunter
of Canada 6-2, 6-2 in the final.
Victory for top seed Norfolk, 44, from Fleet, Hampshire, brought his seventh Super Series win, the equivalent
of a Grand Slam title, on the global NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour. The Brition is now likely to jump one place,
back to World No 1 in the weekly Quad Singles rankings, for players affected in three or more limbs, published
by the International Tennis Federation.
"I've really enjoyed the tournament, played well through out the week to win and am very pleased that I have
been able to defend my title convincingly," said a delighted Norfolk afterwards. "My Serve was accurate and
consistent, and my strategies paid off."
In winning the Quad Singles at the Japan Open 12 months ago, Norfolk completed a clean sweep of all four
wheelchair tennis Super Series crowns, having won the British and US Open titles in 2003 and starting 2004
by winning the Australian Open.
After becoming Great Britain's first ever Paralympic Tennis medallist in Athens last September, Norfolk
went on to win Silver in the Quad Doubles with fellow Briton Mark Eccleston, who has since his retired
from the sport after another hugely successful career during which he also attained the World No 1 Quad
Singles ranking . Meanwhile, Norfolk completed 2004 by claiming his third US Open crown in four years
and the sixth Super Series title of his career.
Saturday's victory in Japan brings Norfolk his second successive title of 2005 after winning on his
seasonal debut at the Florida Open in April, and marks the beginning of what promises to be an exciting
summer. Norfolk's next 'Grand Slam' engagement after Japan will be on Sunday, 3rd July when he performs
the coin toss before the Men's Singles final at Wimbledon. Three weeks later he will bid for more Super
Series success of his own when he takes part in the British Open in Nottingham, from 26th - 31st July
Story from the BTF website - 13th June 2005
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Norfolk, Mistry and McMorran Triumph at 2005 National Wheelchair Tennis Championships
Peter Norfolk (Fleet, Hampshire), Jayant Mistry (Loughborough, Leicestershire) and Janet McMorran
(Bromyard, Herefordshire & Worcestershire) secured the Quad, Men’s and Women’s Main Draw Singles titles
respectively at the 2005 National Wheelchair Tennis Championships at the Oxstalls Indoor Tennis Centre,
Gloucester, on Bank Holiday Monday.
Athens Paralympic Quad Singles Gold medallist and top seed Norfolk overcame second seed and seven-time
National Champion Mark Eccleston (Southport, Merseyside) to win his second National Quad Singles title.
Norfolk, who followed his Gold medal winning performance in Athens by pairing up with Eccleston to win
Silver in the Quad Doubles, added to his 2002 Quad Singles National title with a comprehensive 6-1, 6-2
win in Monday’s final in Gloucester.
Meanwhile, in a repeat of the 2003 Men’s Main Draw Singles final, British Men’s No 1 Mistry defeated fourth
seed Kevin Plowman (Norwood Green, Halifax, Yorkshire) to lift an unprecedented 12th National singles title.
Plowman, who was a member of the Great Britain Paralympic Team in Athens last year alongside Mistry, was
unable to win a game in the first set, and had moderately more success in the second as Mistry comfortably
retained his title with a 6-0, 6-2 victory.
Monday’s Women’s Singles final saw six-time former champion McMorran regain the National Women’s title for
the first time since 2000 as she held off three-time former champion Kimberly Blake (Newport Pagnell,
Buckinghamshire). Despite having lost to Blake in the final of the North East Wheelchair Tennis Tournament
in Sunderland, Britain’s first world ranking event of the year, in March, McMorran (Bromyard, Herefordshire
& Worcestershire) quickly asserted herself as she won four games in a row take the first set of Monday’s
National Championships final 6-2. The second set followed a similar trend as McMorran took the last five
games to wrap up a 6-2, 6-1 victory and collect her seventh National title.
Plowman and Paul Simmons (Guisborough, Cleveland) justified their top seeding to take the Men’s Main Draw
Doubles title, defeating Andy McErlean (Waterlooville, Hampshire) and Richard Latkowski (Witney, Oxfordshire)
6-3, 6-1 in the final.
Meanwhile, McMorran collected her second title of the day in the Women’s Draw Doubles final, partnering
Lucy Shuker (Taunton, Somerset) to a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Debbie Brazier (Prenton, Wirral) and
Debbie Brazier (Newport, South Wales.
The Quad Main Draw Doubles title was taken by Chris Johnson (Waterlooville, Hampshire) and Nick Webborn
(Eastbourne, Sussex), who won their final against Mark Eccleston (Southport, Merseyside) and Sean McCallion
(Northolt, Middlesex) 6-4, 6-2.
Local Gloucestershire interest on finals day on Bank Holiday Monday centred around Graham Abbott (Churchdown),
who ended up as the runner-up in the Men’s C Division Consolation Singles after losing Monday’s final against
Keith Vibert (Jersey) 6-3, 7-5.
The National Wheelchair Tennis Championships is supported by Gloucester City Council, Slazenger and Pennine
Spring Water.
Story from the BTF website - 2nd May 2005
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Peter Norfolk is the number one quad tennis player in the world.
He has won the five out of the last six Super Series events which are the wheelchair equivalent of Grand Slams.
And he picked up the first ever gold in quad tennis at the Paralympics in Athens in 2004.
His success means he is now a target for others but he wants to achieve more in a sport that he, "absolutely loves playing".
Peter has used a wheelchair since he was 19 years old when a motorcycle accident broke his back and left him
with a spinal cord injury. He says: "I used to play tennis before my accident and when I first saw an
exhibition match I thought, 'that's the sport for me'." But it wasn't until there were further complications
to his injury that things began to change. He says: "When I had my second injury which principally made me
a quad, where I lost the use of my arm, shoulder and my hand, I decided to take it a bit more seriously.
"Then I got lottery funding which allowed me to take it more seriously because it allowed me to get the
facilities and the technical assistance. "That was the start really. I thought, 'I can get better, I can
improve,' and the funding allowed me to take time out of work and get the best out of myself."
Hours of practice
Quad tennis differs from wheelchair tennis in that players have at least three limbs affected rather than two.
Peter has limited use of his right arm so although he can push his chair, his racquet is strapped to his hand
and he can't change grip. He adds: "You can't be competitive with a fixed grip against someone who can change
grip and move the chair more powerfully. "But the quad division is extremely competitive and is fantastic for
tennis. It's allowed me to continue playing. "The world number four, Nick Taylor, uses a power chair and he
tosses the ball up to serve with his foot. "He's put in hours and hours of practice to be able to do that and
he hits with amazing top spin."
Team Norfolk
Peter puts his success in 2004 down to what he calls 'Team Norfolk'. He says: "I've got a great coach, assistant
coach and a team manager. I've been more professional, more focussed and I've dedicated myself to particular goals.
"I'm specific about my training and you have to be open to criticism, unfortunately.
"My team question what I do and 2005 is going to be even harder because everyone wants to beat me."
Story from BBC Sport Website - 1st May 2005
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Paralympic Champion Norfolk and his coach net National Tennis Awards
Athens Paralympic Gold Medallist Peter Norfolk, from Fleet in Hampshire, has netted the title of "Disabled Player
of the Year 2004" along with his coach John Bozas who has won "Coach of the Year" in the Lawn Tennis Association
(LTA) Awards.
The Awards will be presented to the World No 1 Quad Wheelchair Tennis player and his coach John Bozas by LTA
President Charles Trippe and the Chief Executive John Crowther at the LTA Awards, which will be held at the All
England Club in Wimbledon on Monday 6th December.
Norfolk won Great Britain's first ever Paralympic Tennis Gold Medal in Athens in the Quad Singles, for players
affected in three or more limbs, before going on to win Silver with fellow Briton Mark Eccleston in the Quad
Doubles two days later. The 43-year-old Briton's success in Athens came 12 months after he reached World No 1
in the Quad Singles rankings and he has maintained that ranking ever since.
En route to Athens, Norfolk scooped this year's Australian and Japan Opens, completing a haul of all four
successive tournaments on the NEC Tour to have Super Series status, the equivalent of Grand Slam: the British,
US, Australian and Japan Opens. Despite a narrow defeat in his first tournament since Athens, Norfolk bounced
back to win the Quad Singles title for the third time in four years at October's US Open, the final Super Series
of the year.
"I am delighted to have won the LTA Disabled Player of the Year award again," said Norfolk. "To have finally won
Britain's first Paralympic Tennis medal was a very proud moment, especially as it was Gold. I have always had
great support behind me and to have not just myself, but also my coach John Bozas recognised in this year's LTA
Awards makes this award even more special."
"I am so proud to receive the LTA Coach of the Year Award having moved from South Africa only four years ago,"
said Bozas. "I have really enjoyed working with Peter and being part of "Team Norfolk" with his wife Linda as
well as Sue Wolstenholme, Director of the British Tennis Foundation (BFT), Dawn Newbery, Paralympic Team Manager
and James Pankhurst, Paralympic Coach and the whole of the LTA and BTF team. I have also had great support from
the Civilian and Army Management team at the Aldershot Tennis Centre and I am really looking forward to resuming
training with Peter in the new year and together setting our sights towards Beijing in 2008."
Tim Henman won the top award for his outstanding form throughout the season, reaching both the French Open and
US Open semi-finals as well as the quarter final at Wimbledon and for his continuing support at the grass roots
of British Tennis.
7th January 2005
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Melbourne Joy for Norfolk
Britain's Peter Norfolk completed his own set of 'grand slam' titles with
victory over David Wagner in the Quad Singles final at the Australian
Open.
Norfolk's 6-2 6-2 win means he adds the Australian title to his British
and US Open triumphs in 2003.
The world number one, from Fleet in Hampshire, did not compete in the
Australian Open last year.
His victory over the American world number two also gives him his six
consecutive NEC Tour title.
Story from BBC SPORT:
Victory for Norfolk
Britain's Peter Norfolk made a superb start to his year by winning the
quad main draw singles title at the Sydney International Wheelchair Open.
The world number one and top seed beat Dutch fourth seed Bas Van Erp 7-6
6-4 to clinch his fifth consecutive Tour title after ending 2003 with
four wins.
Victory for Norfolk at Melbourne Park would give him his own Grand Slam
after victory in last year's British and US Opens - the other two Super
Series events.
Story from BBC SPORT:
US Open 'Grand Slam' Glory For Super
Brit Norfolk
 Britain's
World No 1 Quad player Peter Norfolk (Fleet, Hampshire) pulled off a spectacular
victory on Sunday to regain the Quad Main Draw Singles title at the US
Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships, a part of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis
Tour, in San Diego, California.
Top seed Norfolk was in devastating form as he swept aside the challenge
of Israel's Haim Lev 6-1, 6-0 in the final, retrieving a title he won
for the first time in 2001.
The US Open is the third and final NEC Tour event of 2003 to have Super
Series status, the equivalent of Grand Slam, and Sunday's triumph is Norfolk's
third Super Series title of his career following his win in San Diego
in 2001 and his British Open victory in July this year.
The victory was also his fifth NEC Tour title this year from his last
six tournaments and stretches his advantage at the top of the world Quad
rankings published by the International Tennis Federation.
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