Alfie Hewett claims his fourth US Open wheelchair singles title
- Adhitya Vijaykumar
- Sep 23, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 12, 2023
Great Britain’s Alfie Hewett reigned supreme in an all-British wheelchair singles final as the 25-year-old Brit defeated his fellow countryman Gordon Reid 6-4, 6-3 in the 2023 US Open final to win his fourth US Open men’s wheelchair title and eight overall. This title marked his fourth victory at Flushing Meadows after his previous victories in 2018, 2019, and 2022.
“It’s the stuff of dreams to be able to come here and play on a stadium court and to be holding the trophy for a fourth time is something I’m very grateful for. Obviously, there’s something I like about playing in New York, I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I’m doing alright here.
“It’s not easy playing your doubles partner in a Grand Slam final and I just want to congratulate you (Reid) on a great week and for getting back to where you belong in these finals.
“I really hope wheelchair tennis continues to grow and becomes more available to more people, because it’s a fabulous sport to play.”
The finalist Reid also left New York following his best campaign at Flushing Meadows as he reached his first-ever US Open singles final and first major final since Wimbledon 2021.
Congrats to Alfie, you’ve been the best player this week, so you deserve to have the title,” said Reid. “Big thanks to the team out here with me, to the LTA and everyone back home. I’ll get home, start working again and hopefully I’ll be back here again soon.”
The 2016 Paralympic gold medallist Reid got off to an electric start breaking in the opening game of the match. However, could not keep the momentum as the three-time US Open champion Hewett broke back straight away with some impressive winners off the return. 18-time Grand Slam title winners as a doubles pair, Hewett and Reid know each other’s games inside and out, and, in the end, it was costly mistakes that proved the difference in the opener.
Reid’s fourth double fault sealed the break and one-set lead for world No.2 Hewett. In similar fashion to the first set, Reid got the break in the opening game of the second, but Hewett charged back immediately. With the title firmly in his sights, Hewett drove another signature backhand return winner on his third break point to take a 4-2 lead.
Despite Reid’s continued battle against the impressive power and skill of his doubles partner and friend, it was Hewett on held his nerve and served championship point to defend his US Open crown. The pair also reached the semifinals of the men’s doubles event as they lost a close game to the pair of Stephane Houdet and Takashi Sanada.
Some of the other Brits who were in action at Flushing Meadows included Andy Lapthorne as the former world number one was looking to bag his third US Open title after his triumphs in 2014 and 2019. The 32-year-old Brit was paired along with his South African partner Donald Ramphadi in the men’s wheelchair quad doubles. The pair overcame two strong challenges and reached the finals of the event and were defeated by two-time defending champions from the Netherlands Sam Schröder and Niels Vink. The 32-year-old native of Middlesex also competed in the men’s wheelchair quad singles event and reached the semifinals as his title challenge was ended by Niels Vink.
In women’s wheelchair singles Lucy Shuker chasing her first grand slam crown defeated Japan’s Manami Tanaka 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. The 43-year-old Brit started on the back foot as she lost her opening set but came back strong to win the next two sets claim an opening-round win and book her place in the quarterfinals. Quarterfinals proved to be a huge challenge for the British athlete as she was defeated by the Dutch world number one Diede de Groot who went on to win her sixth US Open crown and 38th overall.
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