Daniela Di Toro
{{Short description|Australian wheelchair tennis player}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox wheelchair tennis player
|name = Daniela Di Toro
|image = File:XXXX15 - Daniela Di Toro - 3b - 2016 Team processing.jpg
|caption = 2016 Australian Paralympic team portrait of Di Toro
|fullname = Lisa Daniela Di Toro
|country = {{AUS}}
|residence = Melbourne, Victoria
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|10|16|df=y}}
|birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria
|death_date =
|death_place =
|turnedpro = 1988
|retired =
|plays = Right Handed
|careerprizemoney =
|tennishofyear =
|tennishofid =
|website =
|singlesrecord = 394–115
|singlestitles =
|highestsinglesranking = No. 1 (14 July 1998)
|currentsinglesranking = 5
|AustralianOpenresult = F (2002, 2003, 2004, 2011)
|FrenchOpenresult = SF (2010)
|USOpenresult = F (2010)
|Othertournaments = yes
|WheelchairTennisMastersresult = F (1995, 1996, 2010)
|Paralympicsresult = 20px Bronze Medal (2004)
|doublesrecord = 256–77
|doublestitles =
|highestdoublesranking = No. 1 (20 May 1997)
|currentdoublesranking = 48
|AustralianOpenDoublesresult = F (2010)
|FrenchOpenDoublesresult = W (2010)
|WimbledonDoublesresult = F (2009, 2010)
|USOpenDoublesresult = F (2009, 2010)
|OthertournamentsDoubles = Yes
|WheelchairTennisMastersDoublesresult = W (2000)
|ParalympicsDoublesresult = 20px Silver Medal (2000)
|WheelchairWorldTeamCupresult = 20px Champion (1999)
|medaltemplates={{MedalCountry | {{AUS}}}}
{{MedalSport | Women's wheelchair tennis}}
{{MedalCompetition| Paralympic Games }}
{{MedalSilver| 2000 Sydney | Women's Doubles}}
{{MedalBronze| 2004 Athens | Women's Singles}}
|updated = 29 January 2012
}}
Lisa Daniela "Danni" Di Toro (born 16 October 1974) is an Australian wheelchair tennis and para table tennis player.{{cite web |title=ATHLETE PROFILE (PARA) |url=https://cdn.revolutionise.com.au/cups/tta/files/syefpc1kooekc5do.pdf |work=Table Tennis Australia |access-date=16 February 2024 |quote=NAME: Lisa Daniela Di Toro / NICKNAME: Danni}}{{cite news |title=Confused, angry': Massive problem with Nine's $305m Olympics deal |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/olympics/confused-angry-massive-problem-with-nines-305m-olympics-deal/news-story/6bc5c221c4dc5b50efd192a80ba9a999 |website=news.com.au |date=10 February 2023 |access-date=16 February 2024 |quote=Flag bearers Lisa Daniela Di Toro and Ryley Batt of Team Australia}} Di Toro was the 2010 French Open doubles champion and has also been the Masters double champion. In singles, Di Toro is the former world number one and two-time masters finalist. In 2015, she moved to para-table tennis and represented Australia at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, where she was team captain with Kurt Fearnley.{{cite web |title=2016 Paralympic co-captain leads the way for 5-strong Para-table tennis team |url=https://www.paralympic.org.au/2016-paralympic-co-captain-leads-the-way-for-5-strong-para-table-tennis-team/ |website=Australian Paralympic Committee News |date=27 April 2016 |access-date=29 April 2016}} At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, her seventh Paralympics, she was the team captain and Opening Ceremony flag bearer with Ryley Batt. She competed at her eight Paralympics in Paris.
Personal life
Daniela Di Toro was born on 16 October 1974 in Melbourne, Victoria. She became a paraplegic in 1988 in an accident while competing at a school swimming carnival, when a wall fell on her.{{cite web |url=http://www.paralympic.org.au/team/daniela-di-toro |access-date=5 October 2011 |title=Daniela Di Toro |publisher=Australian Paralympic Committee |year=2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805125323/http://www.paralympic.org.au/team/daniela-di-toro |archive-date=5 August 2011 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE2199b.htm |access-date=5 October 2011 |title=Toro, Daniela |publisher=The Australian Women's Register |year=2010}} While in hospital, following her accident, Di Toro met Sandy Blythe, a member of the Australian Rollers. He inspired her to continue to pursue sports. She lives in the Melbourne suburb of Thornbury{{cite web |url=http://www.tennis.com.au/player-profiles/daniela-di-toro |access-date=5 October 2011 |publisher=Tennis Australia |title=Daniela Di Toro}} and she works as a youth worker in Melbourne. She graduated from Victoria University with a Bachelor of Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture and Herbs) in 2009.
In 2017, she was appointed Paralympics Australia's Athlete Engagement and Wellbeing Officer, and Vice Chairperson of the Athlete Commission.{{Cite web |title=Danni Di Toro |url=https://www.paralympic.org.au/athlete/danni-di-toro/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 July 2021 |website=Paralympics Australia |date=31 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328191148/https://www.paralympic.org.au/athlete/danni-di-toro/ |archive-date=28 March 2019}}
Wheelchair tennis
{{Quote box
|align=left
|width=20%
|quote=In the past I've always been so caught up in my own competition, I've missed out on seeing my friends compete and getting a sense of what people must feel when they're at a Paralympic Games. It's extraordinary.
}}
In wheelchair tennis, Di Toro is classified as Paraplegic T12/L1. She first started playing tennis when she was nine. She started playing wheelchair tennis in 1988, and started representing Australia in 1989, winning the Australian Open in 1991 – it would be her first of ten Australian Open titles. Internationally, she has been ranked as high as number one. She was once a scholarship holder at the Victorian Institute of Sport.{{cite web |url=http://www.vis.org.au/athletes/daniela-di-toro |access-date=6 October 2011 |title=Daniela Di Toro |publisher=Victorian Institute of Sport |year=2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813174630/http://www.vis.org.au/athletes/daniela-di-toro |archive-date=13 August 2011}} As a professional tennis player, Di Toro has won more than three hundred matches. She is coached by Greg Crump. She trains at the Tennis Centre and Nunawading. Her club tennis is with Wheelchair Sport Victoria.
At the end of the 2010 season, Di Toro was ranked second in the world. During the 2010 season, she reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, semifinals of the French Open and finals of the US Open. In 2010, she won the Japan Open and the Korean Open.{{cite web |url=http://www.tennis.com.au/news/2010/11/25/di-toro-caps-off-successful-season |access-date=5 October 2011 |title=Di Toro caps off successful season |publisher=Tennis Australia |date=25 November 2010}} In 2010, Di Toro competed in the women's double tennis events at the four major tennis events. Her partners were Lucy Shuker of Great Britain and Aniek Van Koot of Holland.{{cite web |url=http://www.tennis.com.au/news/2010/12/04/australian-tennis-awards-winners-announced |access-date=5 October 2011 |date=4 December 2010 |publisher=Tennis Australia |title=Australian Tennis Awards winners announced}} Di Toro was injured in 2011, and had to pull out of the French and Korean Opens because her neck was inflamed. The injury happened while she was competing at the Japanese Open and was a herniated disc.{{cite web |url=http://www.tennis.com.au/news/2011/05/25/di-toro-suffers-injury |access-date=5 October 2011 |date=25 May 2011 |publisher=Tennis Australia |title=Di Toro suffers injury}}
=Paralympics=
Di Toro has competed as wheelchair tennis player in 4 consecutive Paralympic Games: Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008. She won a silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Games in the Women's Doubles event,{{cite web |title=Athlete Search Results |url=http://www.paralympic.org/Sport/Results/search.html?npc=AUS&gender=all&medal=medals&sport=all&games=2000PG |publisher=International Paralympic Committee |access-date=4 October 2011}} with Branka Pupovac as her partner. She won a bronze medal at the 2004 Games in the Women's singles event. She competed at the 2008 Paralympics, and was the only female wheelchair tennis player on the Australian team.
File:020912 - Daniela Di Toro - 3b - 2012 Summer Paralympics.JPG
=Kobe Open=
=Retirement=
In 2005, Di Toro retired from competitive tennis in order to spend more time studying Chinese medicine. She would end her career with 2 US Open titles, the 2000 Wheelchair Tennis Masters Doubles title, and a silver and bronze Paralympic medal. Following her 2005 retirement, she continued to be active in the wheelchair tennis community by coaching young tennis players.
=Return from retirement=
In January 2007, Di Toro came out of retirement to compete in the Australian Open's Wheelchair Tennis Super Series event where she lost in the first round. She would have more success in doubles, where she made the semi-finals with partner Lucy Shuker. She made her first finals appearance after retirement at Wimbledon in 2009. She would go on to make 6 straight finals including winning the 2010 French Open, beating Esther Vergeer and Sharon Walraven. She also made two finals appearances in singles, at the 2010 US Open and 2011 Australian Open. In 2010, she made the finals of the Wheelchair Tennis Masters in singles.
Table Tennis
She is a Class 4 table tennis player. In April 2015, Toro dominated in the C3-5 competition at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Oceania Para-Table Tennis Championships. This was her first international para-table tennis competition after her move from wheelchair tennis.{{cite web |title=Australia claims all four titles at ITTF Oceania Para-table tennis championships |url=http://www.paralympic.org.au/news/australia-claim-all-four-titles-ittf-oceania-para-table-tennis-championships |website=Australian Paralympic Committee News, 15 April 2015 |access-date=2 May 2015}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
At the 2016 Rio Paralympics, she lost both matches in the Women's Singles Class 4 and failed to advance.{{cite web |title=Lisa Daniela di Toro |url=https://www.rio2016.com/en/paralympics/athlete/daniela-di-toro |website=Rio 2016 Paralympics |publisher=Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games |access-date=13 November 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114084604/https://www.rio2016.com/en/paralympics/athlete/daniela-di-toro |archive-date=14 November 2016}} At the 2019 Oceania Para Table Tennis Championships, Darwin, she won the gold medal in the Women's Class 2–5.{{Cite web |last=Gillen |first=Nancy |date=7 May 2019 |title=Australia dominate home Oceania Para Table Tennis Championships |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1078925/australia-dominate-home-oceania-para-table-tennis-championships |url-status=live |access-date=5 July 2019 |website=Inside The Games |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707155644/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1078925/australia-dominate-home-oceania-para-table-tennis-championships |archive-date=7 July 2019}}
At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, she lost both matches in the Women's Singles Class 4 and failed to advance.{{Cite web |title= di TORO, Lisa Daniela |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/paralympic-games/en/results/table-tennis/athlete-profile-n1305148-di-toro-lisa-daniela.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=27 September 2021 |work=Tokyo 2020 Paralympics |publisher=Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927005807/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/paralympic-games/en/results/table-tennis/athlete-profile-n1305148-di-toro-lisa-daniela.htm |archive-date=27 September 2021}}
Di Toro competed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the Women's singles C3-5 but did not progress past the group stage. She competed at the 2024 Paris Paralympics in the Women's Singles 4 and Women's Doubles 10 but did not progress after losing opening matches.
Recognition
File:230821 Flagbearer announcement Di Toro Batt Tokyo KM edit.jpg
In 1999, Di Toro was named the Australian Paralympian of the Year. In 2000, she received an Australian Sports Medal,{{cite web |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/975774 |title=Di Toro, Daniela: Australian Sports Medal |publisher=It's an Honour |access-date=16 June 2012 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070224/http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=975774&search_type=quick&showInd=true |url-status=live}} and in 2001, she was named the Young Victorian of the Year.{{cite web |url=http://www.victoriaday.org.au/awards.htm |title=Victoria Day Awards |publisher=Victoria Day Council |access-date=16 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328015815/http://www.victoriaday.org.au/awards.htm |archive-date=28 March 2018 |url-status=dead}} In 2010, she was nominated as the Most Outstanding athlete with a disability by Tennis Australia. She was appointed team captain with Kurt Fearnley for the Australian Team at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.{{cite web |title=Fearnley and Di Toro to captain 2016 team |url=https://www.paralympic.org.au/fearnley-and-di-toro-to-captain-2016-australian-paralympic-team/ |website=Australian Paralympic Committee News |date=4 February 2016 |access-date=4 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311001145/https://www.paralympic.org.au/fearnley-and-di-toro-to-captain-2016-australian-paralympic-team/ |archive-date=11 March 2016 |url-status=dead}} In November 2019, Batt with Daniela di Toro was named co-captain of the Australian Team at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.{{Cite web |url=https://www.paralympic.org.au/blog/2019/11/26/di-toro-and-batt-to-captain-2020-australian-paralympic-team/ |title=Di Toro and Batt to captain 2020 Australian Paralympic Team |date=26 November 2019 |website=Paralympics Australia |access-date=2 December 2019}}{{dead link|date=January 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} On 23 August 2021, di Toro and Batt were announced as the flagbearers for the Australian team for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics opening ceremony.{{Cite news |title=Two Of Australia's Greatest Paralympians Bestowed Flagbearer Honour |publisher=Paralympics Australia |url=https://www.paralympic.org.au/2021/08/two-of-australias-greatest-paralympians-bestowed-flagbearer-honour/ |date=23 August 2021 |access-date=24 August 2021}} In 2022, she was awarded Paralympics Australia President’s Award. {{Cite web |date=9 June 2022 |title=De Rozario And Tudhope Earn Top Honours at Paralympics Australia Awards |url=https://www.paralympic.org.au/2022/06/de-rozario-and-tudhope-earn-top-honours-at-paralympics-australia-awards/ |access-date=10 June 2022 |website=Paralympics Australia}}
Performance timelines
{{Performance key|active=no}}
**To prevent confusion, this table only includes the events which took place from 2002 onwards at the Grand Slam venues.
= Wheelchair singles =
= Wheelchair doubles =
| class="wikitable"
!Tournament !1996 !1997 !1998 !1999 !2000 !2001 !2002 !2003 !2004 !2005 !2006 !2007 !2008 !2009 !2010 !2011 !2012 |
| colspan="18" |Grand Slam tournaments |
| style="background:#efefef;" |Australian Open
| colspan="8" style="text-align:center;" |Not held | style="background:yellow" align="center" |SF | colspan="2" align="center" |Absent | style="background:#ffebcd;" align="center" |QF{{cite web |title=2007 Australian Open |url=http://www.itftennis.com/wheelchair/tournaments/tournament/info.aspx?tournamentid=1100015132 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911043525/http://www.itftennis.com/wheelchair/tournaments/tournament/info.aspx?tournamentid=1100015132 |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 September 2012 |access-date=29 January 2012 |publisher=ITF}} | style="background:yellow" align="center" |SF | style="background:yellow;" align="center" |SF | style="background:#D8BFD8;" align="center" |F | style="background:yellow;" align="center" |SF | style="background:yellow;" align="center" |SF |
| style="background:#efefef; text-align:left;" | French Open
| colspan="11" style="text-align:center;" |Not held | colspan="3" align="center" |Absent | style="background:#00ff00" align="center" |W | align="center" |A | align="center" | |
| style="background:#efefef; text-align:left;" | Wimbledon
| colspan="13" style="text-align:center;" |Not held | style="background:#D8BFD8;" align="center" |F | style="background:#D8BFD8;" align="center" |F | align="center" |A | align="center" | |
| style="background:#efefef; text-align:left;" | US Open
| colspan="10" style="text-align:center;" |Not held | colspan="2" align="center" |Absent | align="center" |NH | style="background:#D8BFD8;" align="center" |F | style="background:#D8BFD8;" align="center" |F | style="background:#ffebcd;" align="center" |QF | align="center" | |
| colspan="18" |Year-end championship |
| style="background:#efefef;" |Wheelchair Tennis Masters
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center;" |Not held | style="background:#00ff00" align="center" |W{{cite web |title=1999 NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters 2000 |url=http://www.itftennis.com/wheelchair/tournaments/tournament/info.aspx?tournamentid=1100000781 |access-date=29 January 2012 |publisher=ITF |archive-date=30 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330005832/https://www.itftennis.com/wheelchair/tournaments/tournament/info.aspx?tournamentid=1100000781 |url-status=dead}} | colspan="8" style="text-align:center;" |Absent | style="background:#afeeee; text-align:center;" |RR | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |Absent | style="text-align:center;" | |
| colspan="18" |National representation |
| style="background:#efefef;" |Paralympics
| style="background:yellow; text-align:center;" |SF | colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |Not held | style="text-align:center; background:silver;" |F-S | colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |Not held | style="text-align:center;" |? | colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |Not held | style="text-align:center;" |A | colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |Not held | style="text-align:center;" | |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{S-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{Succession box| title=Young Victorian of the Year | before=Jesse Martin | after=Karen Chatto| years=2001}}
{{S-end}}
External links
- {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507205525/http://tabletennis.org.au/High-Performance/Athletes-With-Disabilities/Athlete-Profiles/Lisa-Daniela-Di-Toro |date=7 May 2016 |title=Lisa Daniela Di Toro at Table Tennis Australia}}
- {{Tennis Australia|name=Daniela Di Toro}}
- {{IPC|daniela-di-toro|Daniela Di Toro}}
- {{Paralympics Australia|danni-di-toro|Danni Di Toro}}
- {{Commonwealth Games Australia|danni-di-toro|Danni Di Toro}}
{{French Open Wheelchair tennis women's doubles champions}}
{{Wheelchair Tennis Masters Women's Doubles}}
{{2024 Australian Paralympic Team}}
{{2016 Australian Paralympic Team}}
{{2012 Australian Paralympic Team}}
{{Portal bar|Australia|Biography|Sports|Tennis}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Di Toro, Daniela}}
Category:Australian female tennis players
Category:Australian wheelchair tennis players
Category:Wheelchair category Paralympic competitors
Category:Paralympic wheelchair tennis players for Australia
Category:Paralympic table tennis players for Australia
Category:Paralympic medalists in wheelchair tennis
Category:Paralympic silver medalists for Australia
Category:Paralympic bronze medalists for Australia
Category:Wheelchair tennis players at the 1996 Summer Paralympics
Category:Wheelchair tennis players at the 2000 Summer Paralympics
Category:Wheelchair tennis players at the 2004 Summer Paralympics
Category:Wheelchair tennis players at the 2008 Summer Paralympics
Category:Wheelchair tennis players at the 2012 Summer Paralympics
Category:Table tennis players at the 2016 Summer Paralympics
Category:Table tennis players at the 2020 Summer Paralympics
Category:Table tennis players at the 2024 Summer Paralympics
Category:Commonwealth Games competitors for Australia
Category:Table tennis players at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
Category:Medalists at the 2000 Summer Paralympics
Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Paralympics
Category:People with paraplegia
Category:Recipients of the Australian Sports Medal
Category:Sportswomen from Victoria (state)
Category:Victorian Institute of Sport alumni
Category:Tennis players from Melbourne
Category:ITF wheelchair tennis world champions