Hewett remains positive about wheelchair tennis despite painful defeat

Alfie Hewett took the positive out of his epic 2-6, 6-4, 5-7 Paralympic tennis singles final loss to Japan’s Tokito Oda on Saturday, saying he hoped it would “really get the sport going.”

The 26-year-old Briton lost in just over 2.5 hours in front of a near-sold-out crowd on the Philippe-Chatrier court at Roland Garros, a great advert for the event.

The decisive moment came when he narrowly managed to convert a match point at 5-3 on Oda’s serve. The Japanese held on and then broke Hewett to level the score at 5-5.

Oda, who defeated Hewett in last year’s Wimbledon final, won the next two games to take gold.

Oda, who became the youngest ever Paralympic wheelchair champion at 18 years and 123 days, celebrated his achievement by spinning around in his wheelchair, but the force of the jump caused the wheels of his wheelchair to come loose.

Hewett remained at the net as Oda lay on the floor in the chair, crying tears of joy. The Briton then kindly came over and helped lift the wheels before hugging Oda and whispering in his ear.

“I said, take this in and enjoy it because what we have done today is nothing short of remarkable,” said Hewett, who returns to England with at least the doubles title.

“It could go down in the history of wheelchair tennis at the Paralympic Games as the greatest match ever.”

Wheelchair tennis is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments, but the prize money is small in comparison.

Hewett won £65,000 ($85,000) when he secured the Wimbledon singles title in July, completing a Golden Slam in the process. That was just £5,000 more than the winnings of non-handicapped first-round losers at Wimbledon.

‘A better place’

Even their matches usually take place on the outdoor courts, although Hewett won on Court No. 1 at Wimbledon this year.

The hitting displayed by both Hewett and Oda, and the great showmanship of both, entertained the crowd – so much so that the umpire had to ask the spectators several times to be quiet during the game.

“We certainly did our bit for wheelchair tennis and the Paralympic movement today,” Hewett said.

“And that, as I told him, is sometimes more important than winning a medal.

“I’m sure he won’t agree with it, but right now I’m clinging to that.

“This is something that can hopefully give wheelchair tennis a boost in the future.”

However, wheelchair tennis does quite well in terms of coverage compared to other para sports.

It is unique in Para sport in that it has an established world tour, with the benefit of television and media coverage of all major tournaments.

Hewett also enjoys such a high profile that he was shortlisted for the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2023 award.

Wheelchair tennis has also caught the attention of the British Royal Family.

Doubles star Lucy Shuker was honoured by King Charles III last year and was subsequently snapped by an astute photographer making a ‘pinky promise’ to the monarch’s granddaughter, Princess Charlotte, at Wimbledon this year.

Shuker asked Princess Charlotte if she had ever tried wheelchair tennis.

“She said no,” she told AFP.

“I just said, Pinky, promise that you’ll come play with me one day.

“You know, because you don’t have to have a disability to try the sport.

“And I think it opens people’s eyes to what it feels like and how hard it is.”

Hewett said his career has a greater purpose than just personal fame.

“It’s not just about me and the accolades I can get,” he said.

“It’s about leaving the sport in a better state than when I started.

“Some five, ten years later, when those rackets are hung up and I can watch a match like that (the final), that means more than gold, silver and bronze.”