Australian Open: Alfie Hewett wins his maiden wheelchair singles title in Melbourne to add to his doubles success | Tennis News

England’s Alfie Hewett defeated Tokito Oda 6-3 6-1 to lift the Australian Open men’s wheelchair singles title on Saturday.

World No. 1 Hewett, runner-up at Melbourne Park in 2021 and 2022, won his seventh Grand Slam singles title.

The success made it two golden days for the Norfolk player, who also won the doubles title with England team-mate Gordon Reid on Saturday.

Hewett was down 3-1 in the first set but reeled off five straight games to win and then repeated the streak in the second set, sealing the win with an ace before breaking into tears of joy.

“It’s been a dream come true,” Hewitt said Sky Sports News. “To finish the week with my first singles, doubles title with Gordon and the world number one ranking, it doesn’t get much better than that.

“There’s been a lot of heartbreak in Australia over the last few years. Today was another chance to turn it around and maybe I was a bit tight at first but I turned it around.

“I played well to set up the match and if I won the first set, I was more relaxed and played my best tennis.”

Wimbledon is now the only singles title Hewett, who has 23 Grand Slam trophies overall, has not won.

“Of course I’m confident of winning after last years performances,” he said. “We’ll see when we get there what the mentality is like.”

Japan’s Shingo Kunieda retired on the eve of the tournament having collected 28 Grand Slam singles titles – an all-time record – and 50 overall, as well as four Paralympic gold medals.

“It’s been on my mind with Shingo retiring, something has to come forward,” Hewett said. “I feel, with my ability, I can get close to the record. I have age on my side, I have the confidence, I have the game style to support myself in every slam now.

“Obviously, you take it one at a time. But I like to dominate. I like to be a figurehead for this sport.”

Before that, a Dutch legend Mati de Groot extended her winning streak to nine consecutive Grand Slam titles as she overcame a slow start to beat Yui Kamiji 0-6 6-2 6-2 in the women’s wheelchair singles final.

It was de Groot’s fifth Australian Open title and 17th Grand Slam singles trophy overall.

In the singles quad final, the second seed Sam Schroeder defeated fellow Dutchman and top seed Niels Vink 6-2 7-5 for his fourth Grand Slam title.

The third seed Alexander Block became the first Belgian boy to win the Australian Open singles title. He beat American Learner Tien 6-1 2-6 7-6 (11-9).