Alfie Hewett at the 2022 Australian Open
Alfie Hewett at the 2022 Australian Open | (Photo by PAUL CROCK/AFP via Getty Images/LTA)

Tennis | Wheelchair Tennis | Alfie Hewett claims Cajun Classic title

By Glenys Furness

  • Alfie Hewett claims 3rd Cajun Classic title
  • Andy Lapthorne took the Quads doubles title
  • Lucy Shuker runner up in ladies doubles
LOUISIANA, USA – Alfie Hewett, Andy Lapthorne & Lucy Shuker all entered the ITF Super Series event. The Brits made the finals, with Lapthorne and Hewett winning titles, Shuker end the week runner up.

 

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Alfie Hewett entered the ITF event and was the second seed in singles. The Brit as a result received a bye into the second round. Hewett was against Ruben Spaargaren in the second round. The seed dominated the first set, with the Dutchman barely getting a look in. Spaargaren stayed with Hewett in the second set, until the Brit secured the break of serve. Hewett moved into the quarter-final in straight sets 6-1, 6-4.

In the quarter-final Hewett was against sixth seed Tokito Oda. The Japanese stayed with the Brit at the start of the first set. However, the second seed managed to secure a break of serve to take the lead. The second set was much the same, with the Brit powering through once the break was obtained. Hewett moved into the semi-final in straight sets 6-3, 6-3.

The semi-final saw the Brit against the fifth seed Nicolas Peifer. The Frenchman was no match for Hewett, who dominated the match from start to finish. Peifer tried to stay with the second seed, but no matter what the Frenchman tried, the Brit was up to it. The second seed book a spot in the final 6-1, 6-1.

In the final Hewett was against Argentine third Gustavo Fernandez. The Argentine found Hewett far too strong as the Brit broke easily in the first set to take the lead. No matter what Fernandez tried he could not get back in the set. The second set was even better news for Hewett. The Brit dominated and didn’t lose a game to claim his third singles title of the year 6-2, 6-0.

 

Quads Doubles

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Andy Lapthorne and David Wagner partnered up again for this event. The Brit/American were the second seeds, so received a bye into the quarter-final. Their first opponents were David Jordan & Donald Ramphadi. The American/South African were outclassed by the seeds in the first set. Lapthorne & Wagner dominated and dropped only one game to take the set. The second set was much the same, as Lapthorne & Wagner secured the break of serve to move into the semi-final 6-1, 6-3.

In the semi-final the second seeds were against fourth seeds Greg Hasterok & Mika Ishikawa. The Brit/American were unstoppable, dominating from the off. Lapthorne & Wagner, were in no mood for a long match. The Brit/American broke early in both sets and moved into the final in straight sets 6-2, 6-2.

The final saw the seeds against unseeded pair Heath Davidson & Robert Shaw. The Aussie/Canadian Pair stayed with the Brit/American at first, however experience shone through as Lapthorne & Wagner secured a break of serve in both sets to take the match and title without dropping a set 6-3, 6-3.

 

Women’s Doubles

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Lucy Shuker teamed up with Dana Mathewson and were the second seeds. In the quarter-final the Brit/American were drawn against Angelica Bernal & Shiori Funamizu. The Columbian/Japanese were totally outclassed by Shuker & Mathewson. The seeds broke at will as they dominated the match and took the victory 6-1, 6-1.

The semi-final saw the Brit/American against Macarena Cabrillana & Maria Florencia Moren0. The Chilean/Argentine were totally dominated by Shuker & Mathewson in the first set. The unseeded players were not able to get into the set at all. In the second set, although a bit closer, it was the seeds that secured the vital break of serve to move into the final in straight sets 6-1, 6-3.

In the final Shuker & Mathewson were against the top seeds Diede De Groot & Aniek Van Koot. The Dutch pair stayed toe to toe with the Brit/American and the first set looked to be heading to a tiebreak. However, the top seeds secured the vital break right at the end of the set and took the lead. The Brit/American tried to regroup and fight back in the second set. Unfortunately, it was not to be, as the top seeds secured a break of serve and lifted the trophy 7-5, 6-3.

 

Wheelchair Round Up

Cornelia Oosthuizen with Zhu Zhenzhen were defeated by Saki Takamuro & Manami Tanaka in the quarter-final in the Cajun Classic 6-2, 6-3.

Alfie Hewett with Tokito Oda were defeated by Martin De La Puente & Gustavo Fernandez in the semi-final in the Cajun Classic 6-3, 2-6, 11-9.

Andy Lapthorne was defeated by Sam Shroeder in the semi-final 6-0, 1-6, 6-3.

Cornelia Oosthuizen was defeated by Manami Tanaka in the first round 7-6(6), 6-1.

Lucy Shuker was defeated by Aniek Van Koot in the semi-final 6-4, 6-2.