Defending champion Reid loses his title
There was disappointment in the wheelchair competition yesterday when Scotland’s Gordon Reid surrendered his Wimbledon singles title against the man he beat in last year’s final.
World No 2 Reid struggled on his return to Court 17, the scene of his triumphs in singles and doubles last year.
And Sweden’s Stefan Olsson proved too strong for the topseeded Scot, winning 6-2, 6-3 to reach the semi-finals.
Reid went on to add Paralympic singles gold to his Wimbledon triumph last summer, but this year has been more of a struggle.
He also lost in the opening round of the singles at both the Australian Open and French Open, with doubles team-mate Alfie Hewett going on to take the title at the latter tournament.
Reid, 25, held serve as he got under way against Olsson but then dropped five games in a row, and soon the opening set was gone.
His struggles continued into the second set, despite the encouragement of the crowd, and at 4-0 behind his hopes looked over.
Reid got back to 4-3 and threatened a second break of serve when he forced Olsson to deuce in the next game, but the 30-year-old bearded Swede resisted the pressure.
It was all over for Reid when Olsson took his second match point, the home player lobbing a forehand a foot over the baseline.
MCHUGH BOWS OUT Aidan Mchugh’s impressive run in the Boys’ Singles competition came to an end yesterday when the Glasgow teenager was beaten 3-6, 7-6 (14-12), 2-6 by Matteo Martineau of France in the third round.
It’s been a memorable Wimbledon for the pupil from St Aloysius’ College who was asked by Andy Murray to be his hitting partner as the world No 1 prepared to defend his title at SW19.