By Elizabeth Hudson

The Singles Masters will be Norfolk's last event of the year

Paralympic champion Peter Norfolk goes into this week's NEC Singles Masters in Amsterdam knowing a win will see him end 2009 as world quad number one.

Norfolk has finished the year as world number one in four of the last six years and is keen to overhaul rival David Wagner and finish 2009 on a high.

"It would be nice to finish the year as world number one but I'm not going to get carried away," he told BBC Sport.

"But having the top ranking at stake adds more spice to the tournament."

After winning his second Paralympic gold medal in Beijing last year, Norfolk, who plays in the quad division for players who are disabled in three or more limbs and with his racket taped to his hand, has had a relatively quiet 2009.

The 48-year-old from Hampshire has focused on the bigger events, enjoying success in January's Australian Open in Melbourne and also the US Open at Flushing Meadows.

Wagner, who tops the world rankings, is the defending Masters champion and needs to win in Amsterdam to defend his points total, but victory for Norfolk in the event which starts on Wednesday, would see him overtake his rival.

Norfolk and Wagner are joined in Amsterdam by the world number three Johan Andersson of Sweden and American Nick Taylor, the world number four.

It would be good to finish the year on a winning note Paralympic tennis champion Peter Norfolk

"I've not trained as much as normal this year, but having the top four players in the world playing against each other this week will make it interesting, especially with what is at stake," added Norfolk.

"At the start of the year my aim was to stay in the top three in the world and I have done that comfortably which I am pleased about, considering the amount of training I've done and the number of tournaments I've played in.

"Earlier on this year, I didn't really think I would be in with a chance of finishing as number one but I would be proud if I did."

Norfolk and Wagner have played each other seven times this year with Wagner leading 4-3 and Norfolk anticipates another close encounter before he can relax and enjoy his end-of-year break.

"Whichever one of us is on their game on the day will have a good chance to win but if we are both in form it could end up being a tight three-set match." he said.

"That was what happened at the US Open but I ended up winning. That was the event I really wanted to win this year and it was my best performance of the year.

"It was a great tournament to be part of and we also got to mix with the men's and ladies singles players - Venus Williams even came to watch my doubles match.

"I'm now looking forward to having some time off but I will be back in training in January as I start my build up to the Australian Open. It is an event that I find it difficult to peak for but I want to retain my title.

"It would be good to finish the year on a winning note but we will sit down after that and see what my targets for 2010 are."

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