French Open 2023 Report: Hewett, Reid, and Lapthorne Secure Wheelchair Doubles Titles
Alfie Hewett, Gordon Reid, and Andy Lapthorne emerged victorious in the wheelchair doubles competitions at the French Open 2023.
In an impressive feat, Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett reached their 15th consecutive Grand Slam men’s wheelchair doubles final, winning an impressive 12 out of those 15 finals.
The British duo of Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid clinched their fourth consecutive men’s wheelchair doubles title at the French Open. Additionally, their compatriot Andy Lapthorne also tasted success in Paris.
Hewett and Reid claimed their 17th Grand Slam title together by defeating Gustavo Fernandez and Martin de la Puente in a thrilling match, with a score of 7-6 (11-9), 7-5.
In the quad doubles, Lapthorne, partnering with South Africa’s Donald Ramphadi, triumphed over Heath Davidson and Robert Shaw with a score of 1-6, 6-2, 10-3.
However, Hewett was unable to secure the men’s singles title, falling to a 6-1, 6-4 defeat against 17-year-old Tokito Oda. With his victory, Oda also claimed the top spot in the world rankings, displacing Hewett.
Despite the disappointment in the singles competition, Hewett showcased resilience and determination by bouncing back in the doubles event alongside Reid later that day.
In a thrilling encounter, Hewett and Reid secured the title by winning a closely contested tie-break in the first set and rallying from a 4-2 deficit in the second set.
Reid expressed admiration for Hewett’s performance, acknowledging the challenges he had faced earlier in the day. He highlighted the intensity and closeness of the match, emphasizing that only a few points made the difference.
Hewett now boasts a total of 24 Grand Slam titles, including seven in singles and 17 in doubles. Reid follows closely behind with 23 titles, comprising two in singles and 21 in doubles.
Lapthorne celebrated his 14th Grand Slam doubles victory, partnering with Ramphadi for the first time and coming from a set down to defeat the second-seeded duo of Davidson and Shaw.
Reflecting on the competition, Lapthorne expressed optimism for their future collaboration, hoping for more success in the upcoming tournaments.
Meanwhile, Tokito Oda’s win marked a significant milestone as he became the youngest men’s wheelchair singles world number one. The victory served as redemption for his loss to Hewett in the Australian Open final earlier in the year.
Hewett graciously acknowledged Oda’s outstanding performance, commending his impressive skills despite his young age. He anticipated many more battles and finals between them in the future.
Expressing gratitude to the Roland Garros organizers, Hewett expressed his delight at playing in the prestigious arena and looked forward to competing at Wimbledon.
Oda dominated the first set, breaking Hewett’s serve twice, and withstood a comeback attempt from the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion to secure the victory.
Overwhelmed with emotions, Oda and his coaching team embraced each other, shedding tears of joy on Court Philippe Chatrier, the tournament’s main show court.
The win proved to be a dream come true for Oda, as he became the youngest player to reach the world number one ranking and also won a Grand Slam title on the same day. He described it as the happiest day of his life.
In conclusion, the French Open 2023 showcased remarkable performances in the wheelchair doubles competitions, with Hewett, Reid, and Lapthorne emerging as deserving champions.
8 comments
Great news! Alfie Hewet, Gordon Reid, and Andy Lapthorne are the winners of the French Open wheelchair doubles. They won their 15th successive Grand Slam men’s wheelchair doubles final, 12 out of 15 is impressive. Congrats guys!
Alfie and Gordon did it again! They won the French Open men’s wheelchair doubles title for the fourth time in a row. And Andy Lapthorne, what a player! He also came out on top in Paris. Such an exciting tournament!
Hewett and Reid showed their skills by defeating Fernandez and de la Puente in a nail-biting match. 17 Grand Slam titles together, that’s amazing! Lapthorne and Ramphadi also had an impressive comeback. Such intense wheelchair doubles action at the French Open!
Tough luck for Hewett in the men’s singles final, but he bounced back to win the doubles title with Reid. Oda, the 17-year-old sensation, took the singles title and claimed the world number one spot. Exciting times in wheelchair tennis!
Hewett, Reid, and Lapthorne are making Great Britain proud! Hewett may have lost in singles, but his performance in doubles with Reid was outstanding. Lapthorne’s victory with Ramphadi was a surprise, but they make a great team. Can’t wait for more thrilling matches between these players!
Lapthorne and Ramphadi came from behind to win the quad doubles. What a comeback! Lapthorne’s 14th Slam title, and with a new partner, too. They have a bright future ahead. Congratulations, guys!
Oda is on fire! The youngest wheelchair singles world number one, and he defeated Hewett in the French Open final. Hewett showed sportsmanship and grace in defeat. Looking forward to more battles between these two rising stars!
The French Open wheelchair tennis brought us thrilling matches and emotional moments. Hewett’s disappointment in singles turned into triumph in doubles. Oda’s breakthrough win and ascent to the top spot is inspiring. Kudos to all the players for their dedication and incredible performances!