Hewett fails to net hat-trick

ALFIE HEWETT’S bid for a third US Open wheelchair singles title came up short as Shingo Kunieda rubber-stamped his position as the world’s best player.

The Englishman, right, whose future in the sport is in doubt because of a potential change to the classification rules next year, was hampered by injury as he was beaten 6-1, 6-4.

Before a ball was struck, the 23-year-old from Norwich faced the toughest task in wheelchair tennis against world No.1 Kunieda, who defeated Hewett in last year’s final to rack up his seventh US Open title.

The 37-year-old Japanese also won the Olympics on home soil last month and started confidently, breaking the Briton to love.

In fact, Kunieda won the first 12 points to leave Hewett 3-0 down and as they changed ends, the Englishman asked for the physio to attend to a shoulder problem.

He was able to resume but could not make a dent in his rival, who took the set 6-1. Hewett continued to fight bravely but Kunieda was not to be denied and exacted revenge for the men’s doubles final defeat inflicted upon him and partner Gustavo Fernandez by Hewett and his Scottish partner Gordon Reid.