Serena, Djokovic Attend 2013 ITF Champions Dinner In Paris

On Tuesday night the Creme De L'Creme of the tennis world gathered in Paris to recognize World Champions for their achievements over the previous year. 

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Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, the Bryan twins (for a ninth time) and the Italian pairing of Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci, were among those champions who found the time to momentarily put aside their responsibilities on the other side of the Bois de Boulogne at the French Open to attend and receive their awards.

The evening began on a sombre note with a minute’s silence for the former ATP chairman and player Brad Drewett, a man, whom Djokovic remarked, had ‘a passion for this sport’. It also marked the retirement of the incomparable Esther Vergeer, the world wheelchair champion.





The Dutch woman was receiving the award for the 13th consecutive year, during which time she was unbeaten. The inference made by Andrew Castle, the evening's MC, was that more than a few of her opponents might be relieved to see her go. Vergeer had no regrets about calling time on her career, but admitted – a little worryingly for her one-time rivals - that attending the French Open had stirred her competitive juices.





The junior champions were Filip Peliwo, of Canada, and Taylor Townsend, the first American girl in 30 years to top the year-end junior rankings. Townsend, who described herself as ‘a proud American’, was asked about her aspirations in the sport. ‘I think I could end up as No. 1,’ she said.