Alfie Hewett into French open singles semi-finals and doubles semis with Gordon Reid

Alfie Hewett’s bid for a fourth French Open men’s singles title gathered pace on Wednesday’s second day of wheelchair tennis action in Paris, when the world No.1 raced through his quarter-final against fellow Brit Gordon Reid 6-1, 6-0 and also partnered Reid to reach the men’s doubles semi-finals.

Hewett dropped just the opening game of the his singles quarter-final as Reid held serve, but British No.2 Reid, a two-time singles finalist himself in Paris in 2016 and 2019, was only able to take Hewett to deuce twice in the second set and the top seed wrapped up his 39th international career meeting with Reid in 58 minutes.

After reaching his sixth singles semi-final in seven appearances at Roland Garros, Hewett will now play Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez, the player he beat to earn the first of his three singles titles in Paris in 2017. He said:

“It's a tournament that I know a lot of players, including myself, want to want to win and it doesn't matter if it’s the fourth time, it means just as much, if not even more, because I know now that it's certainly a lot tougher with the stronger field I believe that there is now. Wheelchair tennis is growing and so I want to be a part of that. I want to create my own legacy and have a history of Grand Slams that can be proud of one day when I've actually retired.”

Runner-up in his first singles final at Wimbledon in 2022, Hewett added:

"It would mean a heck of a lot to me and everyone around me if I could complete the set (a career Grand Slam) this year, but my focus right now is clearly on the clay and once this tournament is over, I'll set my eyes onto the grass and get excited for that.”

Hewett and Reid opened their bid for a fourth successive French Open men’s doubles title with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Frederic Cattaneo of France and the USA’s Casey Ratzlaff. Their semi-final opponents will be decided on Thursday.

Currently 16-time doubles champions together at the four majors, Hewett and Reid were two of three Brits in wheelchair tennis action on Wednesday in Paris, with Andy Lapthorne unable to capitalise on a confident start to his quad singles quarter-final against American world No.3 David Wagner.

Lapthorne’s bid to reach a third French Open singles semi-final in four years ended 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 and he will now focus on his quad doubles campaign partnering South Africa’s Donald Ramphadi.

For further news and French Open updates, head to lta.org.uk or keep up to date with all the action on Twitter @the_LTA or @WChairTennisGB.

To find out more about the LTA’s work with disability tennis, head to www.lta.org.uk/play or email disabilitytennis@lta.org.uk.