Lucy Shuker

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Lucy Shuker
Lucy Shuker (GBR) (21012714043).jpg
Shuker at the 2015 US Open.
Country (sports) Great Britain
ResidenceFleet, Hampshire
Born (1980-05-28) 28 May 1980 (age 41)
Doha, Qatar
Turned pro2002
PlaysRight Handed
Official websitehttps://www.lucyshuker.com/
Singles
Career record423–267
Career titles31
Highest rankingNo.5 (25 March 2013)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian OpenSF (2013, 2017, 2022)
French OpenSF (2007)
WimbledonQF (2016, 2017, 2018, 2021)
US OpenQF (2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020)
Other tournaments
Paralympic GamesQF (2008, 2012) R2 (2016)
Doubles
Career record381–205
Career titles75
Highest rankingNo.3 (10 June 2013)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian OpenF (2010, 2013, 2022)
French OpenSF (2008, 2009, 2016)
WimbledonF (2009, 2010, 2012, 2018, 2021)
US OpenSF (2013, 2015, 2017)
Other doubles tournaments
Masters DoublesGold medal world centered-2.svg World Champion (2016) Silver medal world centered-2.svg Runner Up (2019)
Paralympic GamesBronze medal Paralympics.svg Bronze medals (2012, 2016)
Silver medal world centered-2.svg Silver Medals (2014, 2013) Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Bronze Medals (2019, 2018, 2015, 2012)

Lucy Shuker (born 28 May 1980)[1] is a British wheelchair tennis player[2] who is currently the highest ranked woman in the sport in Britain.[3][4] A previous singles & doubles National Champion, Lucy has represented Great Britain at three successive Paralympic Games, twice winning a bronze medal in the women's doubles and is former World Doubles Champion and World Team Cup Silver Medallist amongst a number of other National and International successes.

In 2008,[5] she competed in the singles and doubles events for the first time in Wheelchair tennis at the Beijing Paralympics.[6]

Lucy made history at the London 2012 Paralympics alongside fellow Brit Jordanne Whiley when the pair became the first women to win a medal for Great Britain in wheelchair tennis, coming from match point down to secure Bronze in the women's doubles event.[7][8]

Lucy and Jordanne retained their Bronze medal status in the Women's Wheelchair Doubles at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio.[9]

Early life[]

Shuker was born in Doha, Qatar, but grew up in Fleet, Hampshire. Lucy comes from a talented badminton family and started played badminton at an early age before going on to represent Hampshire County at National Competitions, alongside her brother Matthew Shuker, who held a career high World ranking of No.43 in men's singles.[10] Lucy also had a love of horse riding until she had a motorbike accident at the age of 21 which left her paralysed from the T4 vertebra.[11]

Tennis career[]

Lucy started playing wheelchair tennis in 2002, less than 12 months after her life changing motorbike accident.[12] She was introduced to the sport by former Quad World No.#1 Pete 'Quadfather' Norfolk during the process of buying her first wheelchair.

Lucy is an inspiration to many. As a T4 Paraplegic, her injury was initially considered too profound for her to find success in wheelchair tennis. However, this has only ever served to motivate Lucy more and her previous badminton experience and strong hand-eye co-ordination has made her a natural talent. As one of the most disabled women on tour, Lucy continues to find success amongst the top players in the game.

In 2013, Lucy became the first British Wheelchair Tennis Player to compete at all 4 major Tennis Grand Slams in the same year when she competed at the US Open in New York, the same year that she obtained her highest singles ranking to date of World No.5.

In 2016, Lucy won her first Doubles Masters title, partnering Diede de Groot to the title.[13][14]

In 2018, Lucy made a return to a Grand Slam final when she partnered Sabine Ellerbrock to reach the Wimbledon Doubles Final, and in 2021 she also reached the Australian Open Doubles Final with KG Montjane.

In June 2021 she and Jordanne Whiley were among six tennis players named to represent the UK at the postponed 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo.[15]

Personal life[]

Lucy achieved a BSc Hons in the Science and Management of Exercise and Health from University of Surrey in 2001.

In 2011, Lucy was named the Vitalise Woman of Achievement, and collected the award from disability charity Vitalise in recognition of her achievements in the world of disabled sport.[16]

On 8 November 2017, Lucy was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Bournemouth University.[17] In January 2019, Lucy and South African partner Kgothatso Montjane reached the semi-finals of the women's wheelchair doubles at the Australian Open, but were defeated by second seeds Marjolein Buis and Sabine Ellerbrock.[18]

Notes[]

  1. ^ "Birthday's today". The Telegraph. 28 May 2013. Archived from the original on 28 May 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2014. Ms Lucy Shuker, tennis player; Paralympic bronze medallist wheelchair tennis doubles, London 2012, 33
  2. ^ "Lucy Shuker – Tennis Foundation". Tennis Foundation. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Shuker reaches Sydney last eight". BBC Sport. 1 February 2007. Retrieved 15 April 2007.
  4. ^ "Rankings" (PDF). ITA British. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 15 April 2007.
  5. ^ "ParalympicsGB | Lucy shuker". ParalympicsGB. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  6. ^ "Shuker hopes for Beijing medals". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 September 2008.
  7. ^ Sport, Telegraph (7 September 2012). "Paralympics 2012: Lucy Shuker and Jordanne Whiley survive match point to win bronze". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  8. ^ "Shuker and Whiley fight back to claim bronze – LTA". www3.lta.org.uk. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  9. ^ ontrack2016 (14 September 2016). "Day six review/Day seven preview of Rio 2016 Paralympics – OnTrack Magazine". OnTrack Magazine. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  10. ^ "Customworqs". BadmintonCentral. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  11. ^ "Lucy Shuker – #1 in Great Britain". Archived from the original on 15 December 2021.
  12. ^ Coomes, Beth Rose and Phil (8 July 2017). "The tennis players who play by different rules". BBC News. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  13. ^ "Cotterill, Lapthorne and Shuker net Doubles Masters titles – Tennis Foundation". Tennis Foundation. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  14. ^ "Wheelchair tennis: British trio land Doubles Masters crowns". BBC Sport. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  15. ^ Tennis365 (24 June 2021). "Reigning Paralympic champion Gordon Reid named in Team GB wheelchair squad for Tokyo". Tennis365. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  16. ^ "Shuker presented with Vitalise Woman of Achievement Award". 19 October 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  17. ^ "Honorary Doctorate Lucy Shuker". Bournemouth University. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  18. ^ "Australian Open 2019: GB's Lucy Shuker loses in wheelchair doubles semi-final". 25 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.

External links[]

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