Paralympic hero wins first 2021 singles title
REID BEATS FELLOW BRITON HEWETT IN LOUGHBOROUGH WHEELCHAIR FINAL BEFORE JOINING FORCES TO LIFT DOUBLES TITLE
REIGNING Paralympic champion Gordon Reid claimed his first men’s singles title of 2021 after beating fellow Brit and top seed Alfie Hewett 2-6 7-5 6-4 to lift the inaugural Loughborough Indoor Wheelchair Tennis Tournament crown, writes Marshall Thomas.
Hewett and Reid later joined forces to claim their third successive men’s doubles title of the season as the first LTA international competition staged in Britain in almost 12 months drew to a close.
Dutch top seed Aniek van Koot claimed the women’s singles title and partnered her countrywoman Jiske Griffioen to the women’s doubles title.
World No.5 Reid recovered from a set and 5-3 down to beat world No.3 Hewett and reverse the result of their previous meeting at Loughborough University Tennis Centre in 2017, when Hewett won the men’s final at the sport’s yearend Singles Masters.
“I think last year was the first year in my career that I didn’t win a singles title,” said Reid.
“Obviously, we didn’t play many events, so I’m really pleased to take the title home.
“I’ve played some really good tennis this week and I thought the final was a really high level.
“I had to play some of my best tennis to beat Alfie and had to take a few risks and try to get on the front foot early in the points.” Ten-time Grand Slam champions Hewett and Reid made it a hat-trick of men’s doubles titles for 2021 after racing past Dutch second seeds Maikel Scheffers and Ruben Spaargaren 6-0 6-1. “We’re stronger than ever on the doubles court at the moment and really dynamic and adaptable. I think that’s one of our biggest strengths,” said Hewett.
“To lose to Gordon in the singles final was disappointing.
“I feel like I’ve been playing some of my best singles tennis recently and the level of the match was incredible from both of us.
“I was playing some really good stuff for the first set-and-a-half and from then on Gordon stepped it up.”
World No.3 and 2019 Wimbledon champion Van Koot powered to victory in the women’s singles final, beating American third seed Dana Mathewson 6-3 6-2.
Meanwhile, the women’s doubles final brought together the Rio 2016 gold and bronze medallists, with reigning Paralympic champions Griffioen and Van Koot battling back to win a thrilling contest against Brits Lucy Shuker and Jordanne Whiley 4-6 6-4 (10-3) after a deciding match tie-break.
I thought the final was a really high level. I had to play some of my best tennis to beat Alfie
Gordon Reid