Brit Secures 32nd Grand Slam Title in Epic ‘Federer-Nadal’ Wheelchair Tennis Showdown

MELBOURNE: Alfie Hewett likened his rivalry with Tokito Oda to the iconic tussles between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal after he secured a hard-fought revenge against the young Japanese player in the Australian Open men’s wheelchair final on Saturday.

Representing Great Britain, Hewett triumphed with a score of 6-4, 6-4, marking his 10th grand slam singles title and an impressive 32nd title overall.

In tandem with Gordon Reid, Hewett has amassed 22 major doubles titles.

Hewett had previously defeated Japan’s Oda in Melbourne two years back, however the now 18-year-old has since claimed victory in three grand slam finals and clinched a gold medal at the Paralympic Games in Paris last year.

“To be honest, I didn’t expect to start tearing up on the court, but I think I’ve been carrying a lot of emotions from our last few encounters,” said an emotional Hewett.

“It really shakes your belief and confidence during crucial moments. For me to achieve this today and prove to myself more than anyone else that I can meet the challenge posed by a player of his calibre was incredibly overwhelming.”

“Today, I was incredibly eager and determined to demonstrate my capabilities from the very first point,” he commented.

To prepare for Oda, Hewett brought along a left-handed training partner to Melbourne.

“Tokito has arrived on the tour and raised the standard for all of us, as we have to compete at our best,” the 27-year-old expressed.

“If not, he will rule the court. Losing in the moment is certainly painful and makes you ponder the long road ahead, especially considering how young he is.”

“You must be challenged and pushed to your fullest. We maintain a good rapport, and I’m grateful for his drive; I know I push him too, and he would agree. It’s reminiscent of a Federer-Nadal dynamic—adapted for wheelchair tennis.”

Australia’s Dylan Alcott boasts an impressive 23 quad wheelchair grand slam titles, inclusive of 15 singles championships.

Shingo Kunieda of Japan, who has since retired, astonishingly claimed a total of 50 wheelchair grand slam titles, with 28 of those in singles.

Hewett is steadily approaching that remarkable milestone.

“Kudos to Alfie—that’s an extraordinary achievement,” remarked Mark Petchey on Stan Sport’s Grand Slam Daily.

“And yet he possesses the enthusiasm reminiscent of players like Novak (Djokovic). Even with a rival pushing him, and despite the option to retire with honour, his commitment is unwavering. Just look at what it means to him.”

“He is also a fantastic ambassador for the sport, always promoting and encouraging those with disabilities to engage with tennis. His impact goes beyond what he does on court; it’s about the entirety of his character.”

On the same day, Sam Schroder clinched his fourth consecutive quad wheelchair title after overcoming fellow Dutchman Niels Vink with a scoreline of 7-6, 7-5.

Despite Vink entering the match as second-ranked with a record of 23-12 against the top-ranked Schroder.

“It feels incredibly special for me to win a tournament once again,” said Schroder.

“After your first win, the desire for the second one grows. Winning the fourth is absolutely surreal when I reflect on it.”

Wheelchair tennis comprises three categories: men, women, and quads, with each featuring singles and doubles events.

The quad division is the most recent addition and accommodates players with significant loss of function in at least one upper limb, as well as various other disabilities beyond quadriplegia.

In the women’s singles final, Japan’s Yui Kamiji triumphed over Dutch player Aniek van Koot with a scoreline of 6-2, 6-2.

– with AP