WIMBLEDON 2022

WHEELCHAIR TENNIS

BY MARK DAVIDSON

For the first time since 2019, the Championships were back to full capacity with thousands watching events unfold on a daily basis. In addition, no less than 192,000 portions of strawberries along with 277,000 glasses of Pimm’s were purchased - underlining the fact that tennis would not be the same without traditional food and drink. Nearly 28,000 Championship towels were also sold to spectators who hadn’t had a chance to fully enjoy the tournament since 2019.

It is now a feature of the fortnight that many spectators are happy to soak up the atmosphere in designated picnic spots and dining areas rather than watch specific matches, all of which provide space for wheelchair users. In addition, there are large screens provided at various vantage points around the complex, allowing all the action to be covered. Keenly contested as ever, the major rivalries in wheelchair tennis were once again battling to lift the most coveted grand slam title, with strong representation from around the globe. The first match of the men’s wheelchair singles provided a great start with Alfie Hewett taking on his double’s partner Gordon Reid, with Hewett coming out the winner in three sets.

In the ladies’ event the number one seed and eventual winner Diedi De Groot began her campaign beating Wimbledon debutant Dana Mathewson of the USA 6-1, 6-1.

Despite making his debut on grass, Brazil’s Ymanitu Silva lost in the quad singles to one of the eventual finalists, Netherland’s Niels Vink. This was also the first time Heath Davidson from Australia had competed on the surface and despite initially overcoming Britain’s Andy Lapthorne, he too lost to Niels Vink in the semi-finals. The pair of Silva and Davidson teamed up for the doubles but couldn’t progress further. They lost to the competition winners who happened to be Sam Schroder and Niels Vink once again. There was also a debut for the competition’s youngest player, Japan’s sixteen-year-old Tokito Oda. Unfortunately he was not able to progress, losing in both the wheelchair singles and doubles events.

For the first time ever, matches were played on No. 1 court which saw Alfie Hewett defeat Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez in the semi-final of the singles 2-6, 7-6, 6-4. Later that evening, Hewett teamed up with his doubles partner Gordon Reid in the same location, making their way to the final by beating Tom Egberink of the Netherlands and Joachim Gerard of Belgium in three sets.

Alfie Hewett

As the events now reached the final stages, there was disappointment for the British pair who lost their doubles crown to Gustavo Fernandez of Argentina and Shingo Kunieda of Japan 3-6, 1-6 losing their first Grand Slam final since Wimbledon 2019.

Gordon Reid said: “Congratulations to Shingo and Gustavo. I thought they played a brilliant match today so they deserve to be the winners. We’re really proud of the run we’ve had. At the end of the day we gave it our best shot and just came second best to the better team.”

Hewett said: “Obviously yesterday was a massive day for myself and for us (referring to playing on court one). In the evening it was unbelievable, an incredible day that I’ll always remember. For this number of spectators to come and watch us today, we really do appreciate it. I hope you continue to follow our sport.” After methodically progressing to the final, Diede de Groot of the Netherlands defeated Yui Kamiji of Japan 6-4, 6-2. When asked about her fourth Wimbledon title Diede replied: “Competing on grass for us is really tough. It’s a constant effort that you have to put in to keep pushing. That makes it physically very tough.” In the ladies’ wheelchair doubles final, Yui Kamiji and Dana Mathewson defeated the Dutch pair of Diede de Groot and Aniek Van Koot 6-1, 7-5. In the first of two finals for Sam Schroder, he got the better of his Dutch compatriot, beating Niels Vink 7-6, 6-1 in the quad singles. Despite his efforts in getting to the singles final, Alfie Hewett wasn’t able to reproduce his previous form and succumbed to Shingo Kuneida of Japan in three sets in very warm conditions. Afterwards he said: “It’s a tough defeat to take. I had chances in the second and third set to serve it out. Pretty disappointed not to step up to the occasion, but I think a lot of credit goes to Shingo who put up a massive effort to come back and not give up.” When asked about achieving a career slam and where this title ranks amongst his others, Kunieda said “The best. I think this title is very hard because of the grass. I have a clay court record, but in the past I did not play well here. I think Wimbledon is the hardest title for me but this year I found a way to play on the surface.” Elsewhere, the quad wheelchair doubles final was a fitting end to the whole tournament being played on court one to a large crowd, with the dutch pair of Sam Schroder and Niels Vink defeating Britain’s Andy Lapthorne and David Wagner of the USA 6-7, 6-2, 6-3.

Donald Ramphadi

Sam Schroder