Alfie Hewett successfully defended his US Open title on Sunday afternoon and admitted he was spurred on by concerns over his future in the sport.
The 21-year-old Briton defeated a man 27 years his senior, after Frenchman Stephane Houdet’s surprising run to the final, in a tight encounter winning 7-6 (11-9) 7-6 (7-5) in an hour and 52 minutes.
It was Hewett’s third Grand Slam singles title – he will play for a sixth doubles win alongside Scotland’s Gordon Reid later on Sunday – and second in New York, with the Brit one of just two wheelchair men’s singles major winners in 2019 after Gustavo Fernandez picked up titles in Melbourne, Paris and London.
His victory is all the more impressive when one factors in the off-court issues he is currently facing.
With the Tokyo Olympics around the corner, Hewett’s future in the sport is under threat due to proposed new classification rules.
His disability – a result of a degenerative condition called Perthes Disease that affects his left hip and femur – is thought to fall short of the level of impairment required to compete under suggested restructured rules from the International Paralympic Committee.
They are yet to be finalised and Hewett is eligible to play at least until January 1, 2021 but the threat of being banned from the sport hangs over his head.
‘It’s not really something I try to think of like, “Oh this could be my last US Open” as the whole process and the whole classification is very fresh and up in the air,’ Hewett said after winning the US Open.
‘I can’t really say too much because it’s up in the air. But whether it does or whether it doesn’t, I’m proud of what I’ve achieved in this sport. I’ve achieved a lot and I’m very happy with it. But for sure I want a lot more and I want to carry on playing.’
Asked if it had affected his mindset in New York, he replied: ‘No. To be honest, it’s all very ongoing at the moment and anything can happen in the next year or so.
‘As it stands, I’m allowed to play. I’ve done nothing wrong, I’m eligible to play and that’s what I’ll keep on doing. Whether it comes to an end in a year and a bit or it doesn’t, I want to win as much as I can.
‘I think I have a right to play and it hasn’t affected me. If anything it’s spurred me on to prove people wrong and to shut people up really.
‘Yeah, there’s been a lot going on this week behind the scenes but you’ve just got to kind of focus on the tennis really. That’s what I’ve come here to do and I’ve done that. ‘
With the eligibility issues out of his mind, Hewett humorously thanked a lucky pair of shoes for his latest US Open win.
‘I tell you what the superstitions were,’ he said. ‘I wore these shoes for the first time in New York last year and I’ve never worn them since. I brought them back out the closet for this year’s and I’ve won again.
‘It’s all about the shoes. I’m never getting rid of them. They’re staying. I’ll have to put the titles on them like [Rafael] Nadal.’
Hewett wasn’t the only British winner on Sunday. Andy Lapthorne also won the quad singles title, thrashing Aussie legend Dylan Alcott – who was chasing a Calendar Grand Slam title.
‘It’s massive to beat Dylan. To do it 6-1 6-0 is crazy. I’m massively pleased,’ Lapthorne told Amazon Prime. ‘He’s one of the best players in our division, he’s world number one for a reason,
‘The whole week I’ve been trying to put my game on the court and hope it matches up, and today it did so I’m really pleased.’
Jamie Murray was another British champion in New York, winning the mixed doubles alongside American Bethanie Mattek-Sands on Saturday.
