She received the coveted trophy from former football player Ruud Gullit. She gave a speech of thanks, thanking her mother, coach and manager for their loyalty. “Tennis gave me the biggest smile on my face as a girl and as an adolescent it provided me with a path to follow into my future. It gave me a job and the insight that I can improve myself every day and inspire people all over the world “, said De Groot. “This award gives me motivation and reminds me that I can achieve anything with the biggest smile on my face.”