Wimbledon: Tokito Oda denies Alfiew Hewett career Grand Slam in wheelchair singles final, Henry Searle wins boys’ title

Britain’s Alfie Hewett lost to Tokito Oda in the Wimbledon men’s wheelchair singles final on Sunday, missing the chance to complete a career Grand Slam.

The 25-year-old came up short against the pre-tournament No. 1 seed at SW19, losing to the Japanese teenager 6-4 6-2.

Oda,17, continued his superb form after winning the French Open in June, while Hewett has yet to land the Wimbledon trophy after winning each of the other three previously.

Hewett has lost two consecutive finals in Wimbledon, after losing to Shingo Kunieda in 2022.

“This has been not my first time on Court One this week and I really feel like wheelchair tennis is being put on the map at Wimbledon,” Hewett said after his defeat.

“I know it didn’t go my way this year but I will be even more determined and motivated next year to perform in front of you guys.”

In Sunday’s doubles, Hewett and partner Gordon Reid had claimed their 18th win in Grand Slam doubles together, beating Oda and his team-mate Takuya Miki.

Hewett had led 4-1 in the fourth set, but his opponent won five successive games and saved two break points as he served to go 1-0 up.

In the second set, Hewett was well paced at 2-0 up, but with six double faults over the course of the set Oda reeled off a consecutive six games to win in a little under an hour and a half on Court One.

“This is so amazing. I didn’t expect this amazing support and this court. I am feeling like I’m living in a dream. I’m so happy,” Oda said.

“I want to thank Alfie and his support team. It was not easy playing in this situation against home country players.

“I am still 17 – I wanted to open the champagne but I couldn’t so maybe I will have sparking water with my team.”

In the quad wheelchair final, Netherlands top seed Niels Vink beat Australia’s Heath Davidson 6-1 6-2 for his first Wimbledon victory.

In the boys’ singles Briton’s Harry Searle won the tournament to end the 61-year wait for a British victory, with the last win coming for Stanley Matthews, son of the England footballer of the same name.

The 17-year-old came into the tournament unseeded and defeated Russia’s Yaroslav Demin 6-4 6-4 on Court One.

He will now move into the top-10 seedings after his win, and built on his French Open quarter-final earlier in the summer.

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