Hewett looking to make up for doubles disappointment ahead of final
Britain’s Alfie Hewett is looking to make up for his wheelchair doubles disappointment as he takes to Court Three for his first-ever Wimbledon singles final
- Alfie Hewett is looking to amend his doubles final defeat in his singles final
- The Brit lost the wheelchair doubles final, with Gordon Reid, in straight sets
- Now Hewett can make up for that as he prepares for singles final on Court Three
Alfie Hewett has an instant chance to make up for his wheelchair doubles disappointment when he takes to Court Three for his first-ever Wimbledon singles final today.
The Norwich right-hander failed in his bid to become a 20-time major winner and is yet to capture the singles crown at the All England club.
But he has even more incentive now after just missing out, with partner Gordon Reid, on winning 11 consecutive Grand Slam wheelchair doubles titles when they lost to Gustavo Fernandez and Shingo Kunieda in straight sets.
Alfie Hewett can make up for his doubles final defeat with a win in his singles final on Sunday
The Argentine and Japanese pair triumphed in a surprisingly emphatic 6-3, 6-2 win.
Hewett now faces Japan’s Kunieda again — this time for the singles title. He said: ‘We are disappointed not to continue our run in the Grand Slams. It was a difficult match.’
The top-seeded British pair had not lost a major final since they were beaten here in 2019.
They looked not to have recovered from their 10pm Friday night finish after a gruelling three-set semi-final. Hewett had also endured a dramatic singles semi-final earlier. ‘I think we were probably a little bit tired from yesterday,’ Hewett added. ‘A difficult one to take.
‘They’ve been desperate to beat us for some time — the last time we lost in a Grand Slam was here in 2019 — but obviously Friday was a massive day for us.’
Hewett and Gordon Reid fell to defeat in their doubles final – their first loss in three years
Kunieda said: ‘Gordon and Alfie are the best team in wheelchair history. It was a big challenge for us but finally we got there. I’m really happy.’
Court Three may be filled to its 2,000 capacity for the men’s singles final and Hewett welcomes another chance to raise the profile of the wheelchair game after their dramatic No 1 Court semi-final win.
He added: ‘We want to keep pushing, make it even more professional, make it grow as big as we can because we won’t be playing this sport for ever. There will be an end day at some point.
‘Obviously we want to selfishly make the most of it. Right now we’re in a place where we’re doing really well.
‘It’s getting a lot more exposure, whether it be at the Slams or trying to increase the participation in the ATP or WTA events, I think it’s happening. I think we’re on the right trajectory towards that.’
Hewett faces Shingo Kunieda in the final – who was part of the doubles team that beat the Brit
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