BEIJING — Esther Vergeer's amazing streak of 349 consecutive wins was extended Sunday when she defeated Netherlands teammate Korie Howman to take gold in Paralympics women's wheelchair tennis.

Vergeer barely defeated Homan, winning 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (5).

Her streak stretches back 5 1/2 years, but on Sunday she thought it might end.

"I mean, I am going to lose matches one day," she said. "But I was just really, really hoping it was not going to be today. I was just this close from losing this match, the most important match of my whole year."

Vergeer won double gold in Sydney and Athens. She will go for that again on Monday in doubles with partner Jisek Griffioen. They face the American pair of Beth Arnoult and Kaitlyn Verfuerth in the doubles final.

Frenchwoman Florence Gravellier won singles bronze, beating Griffioen in the bronze-medal game 6-3, 6-4.

Fifty six medals were up for grabs on Sunday with 18 in swimming and the same number in track and field. Medals were also awarded in archery, road cycling, goalball, powerlifting and sitting volleyball.

South African Natalie Du Toit won her fifth and final gold, taking the 50 freestyle. Du Toit also won five gold medals four years ago in Athens.

Du Toit is one of two athletes in the Paralympics who also competed in the able-bodied Olympics. Those were disappointing games for the South African, who finished 16th in the 10-kilometer open water swim.

Her race was ruined when she lost her cap early and struggled throughout to replace it.

"It's a relief from the disappointment (of the Olympics)," Du Toit said. "My goal was to get five golds, so at least I got one of the two things right."

Du Toit plans to train for both the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. She'll focus on the Olympic 800 freestyle and 10-kilometer.

Two American swimmers finished with four gold medals — Erin Popovich and Jessica Long. However, both failed on Sunday attempting to win a fifth gold. Popovich finished second to American teammate Cortney Jordan in the 50 freestyle. Long finished fifth in another 50 freestyle for a separate disability class.

In the women's sitting volleyball final, China defeated the United States in three sets — 25-14, 25-19, 25-15 — to take gold.

South African Oscar Pistorius — "The Blade Runner" — goes for his third gold on Tuesday in the 400 meters, having already won the 100 and 200