Alfie Hewett at The NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters, 2017
Alfie Hewett at The NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters, 2017 | (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images for The Tennis Foundation)

Tennis | Wheelchair Tennis Round Up | Alfie Hewett claim Melbourne title

By Glenys Furness

  • Alfie Hewett claimed the singles title
  • Andy Lapthorne runner up in Quads doubles
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Alfie Hewett Australian Open preparations started with a trophy in Melbourne. The Brit was second seed and claimed the singles title.

 

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Alfie Hewett entered the Melbourne Wheelchair Open, the warm up event for the Australian Open. The Brit was the second seed. Hewett had a first round bye. In the second round the Brit was against Australian Ben Weekes. The Aussie tried to stay with the Brit in the first set, however, the seed managed to get the break of serve and take the lead. The second set saw the Brit dominate and move into the next round in straight sets 6-3, 6-0.

The quarter-final saw the Brit against sixth seed Stephane Houdet. The Frenchman was no match for Hewett in the first set. The second seed dominated and lost only one game to take the lead. Houdet re-grouped in the second set. Matching Hewett the pair looked to be heading for a tiebreak. However, the second seed managed to break right at the end to book a spot in the semi-final 6-1, 7-5.

In the semi-final the Brit was against third seed Gustavo Fernandez. The Argentine managed to break the serve of Hewett and took the lead. This spurred the second seed on. Hewett re-grouped and dominated the second set to level up the match. The final set was a masterclass by the Brit who once again dominated to book a spot in the final 3-6, 6-1, 6-1.

The final saw Hewett against the top seed Shingo Kunieda. The Japanese player stayed with the Brit as the score stayed level. Unfortunately, the top seed had to retire from the match and so handed the victory to the second seed with the score level. Hewett lifted the trophy 4-4 (RET).

 

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Wheelchair Round Up

Gordon Reid was defeated by Tokito Oda in the quarter-final in Melbourne 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Alfie Hewett & Gordon Reid were defeated by Joachim Gerard & Stephane Houdet in the final in Melbourne 0-0 (RET).

Lucy Shuker was defeated by Kgothatso Montjane in the quarter-final in Melbourne 6-1, 6-3.

Lucky Shuker with Manami Tanaka were defeated by Diede De Groot & Aniek Van Koot in the semi-final in Melbourne 7-5, 6-2.

Andy Lapthorne was defeated by Sam Schroder in the semi-final in Melbourne 6-2, 6-0.

Andy Lapthorne with David Wagner were defeated by Sam Schroder & Niels Vink in the final in Melbourne 6-0, 6-3.

Next week Brits play the Australian Open.

 

 

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