British tennis player Alfie Hewett has achieved a long-awaited victory at the Wimbledon singles final, after finishing as a runner-up in the event for the past two years. Hewett dominated the men’s wheelchair final, triumphing over Spain’s Martín de la Puente with a score of 6-2, 6-3. This win has not only earned him his first Wimbledon singles crown but also completed his career grand slam.
The Norwich native, who has previously won every other major across singles and doubles, has finally achieved the elusive victory at the All England Club’s premiere event. Overcome with emotion, the 26-year-old expressed gratitude to his family and friends for their unwavering support, singling out his grandfather, who had been present at his first Wimbledon campaign eight years ago.
Hewett’s victory holds particular significance as he becomes the second male player after Japanese legend Shingo Kunieda to win both the singles and doubles of every major tournament. What makes this triumph even more remarkable is that Hewett had been struggling with a shoulder injury at the start of the tournament, making his win all the more poignant.
Reflecting on his journey to this victory, Hewett shared the challenges he faced in previous tournaments, particularly the heartbreak of narrowly missing out on the title. Despite serving for the championship four times two years ago and leading the first set in last year’s final, he ultimately fell short. It was clear that the weight of these prior disappointments added to the pressure of the final match, as he admitted to being a “ball of nerves” the night before.
Looking ahead to future matches, Hewett’s next opportunity for another triumph comes in the men’s wheelchair doubles final, where he and his partner could become the first duo since 2016 to win both the singles and doubles titles in the same year. With such an impressive track record, Hewett and his partner Gordon Reid are poised to deliver another outstanding performance.
Alfie Hewett’s triumph at Wimbledon truly serves as an inspiring tale of perseverance and redemption. His emotional reaction to victory and the tribulations he faced leading up to this moment make his win all the more meaningful. As he looks towards the next challenge, Hewett’s remarkable achievement has solidified his status as one of Britain’s top tennis stars.