Alfie Hewett[1] OBE (born 6 December 1997 in Norwich, Norfolk) is a British professional wheelchair tennis player.[2][3] He is the current world No. 1 in both singles and doubles.
 Hewett at the 2017 Wimbledon Championships | |
| Country (sports) |  Great Britain |
|---|---|
| Residence | Cantley, Norfolk, United Kingdom |
| Born | 6 December 1997 Norwich, England, United Kingdom |
| Height | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) |
| Turned pro | 2015 |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| Singles | |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (29 January 2018) |
| Current ranking | No. 2 (23 September 2024) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | W (2023) |
| French Open | W (2017, 2020, 2021) |
| Wimbledon | W (2024) |
| US Open | W (2018, 2019, 2022, 2023) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Masters | W (2017, 2021, 2023) |
| Paralympic Games |  Silver Medal (2016, 2024) |
| Doubles | |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (3 February 2020) |
| Current ranking | No. 1 (15 July 2024) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) |
| French Open | W (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) |
| Wimbledon | W (2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024) |
| US Open | W (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) |
| Other doubles tournaments | |
| Masters Doubles | W (2017, 2021, 2023) |
| Paralympic Games |  Gold Medal (2024) Silver Medal (2016, 2020) |
| Last updated on: 30 January 2022. | |
He has won a total of 30 Grand Slam titles: 9 in singles and 21 in doubles, partnering Gordon Reid on every occasion. The pair completed the men's doubles 'set' of all four tournaments in a calendar year in 2021 (becoming the first to do so since Stéphane Houdet first achieved the feat in 2014 with two partners) and won Paralympic gold in men's doubles at the 2024 Summer Paralympics, having been silver medalists in the two previous Games. Hewett is also a two-time Paralympic silver medalist in singles (2016, losing to Reid, and 2024). He won the Wheelchair Tennis Masters in both singles and doubles in 2017, 2021 and 2023.
Hewett was born with a congenital heart defect that required surgery at six months, and suffered from Legg–Calvé–Perthes disease, a condition that inhibits blood flow from the pelvis to the hip joint. His ability to walk was severely impaired and from the age of six he has been a wheelchair user. Though able to walk, Hewett is not fully mobile in the conventional sense and cannot do able-bodied sports.[4]
Tennis career
edit
Hewett attended Acle High School[3] and went on to study Sport and Exercise Science at City College Norwich.[5]
In July 2016 Hewett won the 2016 Wimbledon Championships – Wheelchair men's doubles, alongside Gordon Reid, coming back from a set down to win against the French pair Stéphane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer.[6]
He won a silver medal in the men's singles event at Rio 2016 and silver in the doubles event with Reid, who beat him in the singles final.
In May 2017 Hewett won his first Grand Slam in singles at the French Open, beating Gustavo Fernández of Argentina in three sets, despite losing the first to love.
In July 2017, in a repeat of the final a year earlier, Hewett won the 2017 Wimbledon Championships – Wheelchair men's doubles, alongside Reid, winning in three sets against Houdet and Peifer.
Hewett won the 2017 NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters in Loughborough, UK. He ended 2017 ranked No 2 in the world, then a career-high.
On 29 January 2018 Hewett became the world number 1.[7]
In March 2018 Hewett won his first Super Series singles title at the Cajun Classic in Baton Rouge, USA.
On 2 September 2018 he claimed his second Super Series title at the US Open USTA Wheelchair Championships in St. Louis. Later that month Hewett won the singles title at the US Open as well as the doubles title with Reid.
In September 2019 he successfully defended both his singles and, with Reid, doubles titles at the US Open.[8]
In 2020 Hewett won the French Open singles title in three sets against Joachim Gérard and partnered Reid to win all three available Grand Slam doubles titles at the Australian Open, US Open and French Open, with the Wimbledon Championships cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9][10]
After winning a silver medal in the men's doubles with Reid at the 2020 Summer Paralympics[11] and losing the bronze medal singles match to Reid, world number 2[11] Hewett spoke about his Paralympic future being "out of his hands",[11] due to a review into whether his disability is severe enough to qualify him to play in a wheelchair under the 2019 revision of International Tennis Federation rules.[11] Hewett was allowed to continue his tennis career after an alteration to the new ITF rules in November 2021.[12]
Hewett was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to tennis.[13]
Hewett kicked off 2024 by winning a fifth Australian Open doubles title in a row with Reid.[14] In May 2024 Hewett was part of the Great Britain team which won the World Team Cup for a second successive year beating Spain 2-0 in the final of the event held in Turkey. It was the team's fourth win in the competition since 2015.[15]
Hewett and Reid won a fifth straight French Open in June with a 6-1 6-4 victory over second-seeded Japanese duo Takuya Miki and Tokito Oda in the final.[16]
At the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, Hewett defeated Martín de la Puente in the final, 6–2, 6–3, to complete the singles career Grand Slam.[17] He and Reid also won doubles title, defeating Takuya Miki and Tokito Oda in the final, 6–4, 7–6(7–2).[18]
Hewett won the doubles gold medal at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, France. He lost in Paralympic wheelchair tennis men's singles final.[19]
Career statistics
editGrand Slam performance timelines
edit| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
Wheelchair singles
edit| Tournament | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | SR | W–L | Win % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam tournaments | |||||||||||||
| Australian Open | A | QF | QF | QF | SF | F | F | W | F | 1 / 7 | 9–6 | 60% | |
| French Open | A | W | QF | SF | W | W | SF | F | SF | 3 / 7 | 14–4 | 78% | |
| Wimbledon | QF | SF | SF | QF | NH | QF | F | F | W | 1 / 8 | 10–7 | 59% | |
| US Open | NH | F | W | W | F | F | W | W | NH | 4 / 7 | 20–3 | 87% | |
| Win–loss | 0–1 | 6–3 | 4–3 | 4–3 | 6–2 | 7–3 | 9–3 | 13–2 | 9 / 29 | 53–20 | 73% | ||
Wheelchair doubles
edit| Tournament | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | SR | W–L | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam tournaments | |||||||||||||
| Australian Open | A | A | F | F | SF | W | W | W | W | W | 5 / 8 | 11–3 | 79% |
| French Open | A | A | F | SF | SF | W | W | W | W | W | 5 / 8 | 13–3 | 77% |
| Wimbledon | SF | W | W | W | F | NH | W | F | W | W | 6 / 9 | 15–3 | 83% |
| US Open | A | NH | W | W | W | W | W | F[A] | SF | NH | 5 / 7 | 12-1 | 86% |
| Win–loss | 0–1 | 2–0 | 6–2 | 5–2 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 8–0 | 6–2 | 9–1 | 9–0 | 21 / 32 | 56–10 | 85% |
- ^ Hewett received a walkover in the quarterfinals of the 2022 US Open, which does not count as a win.
Grand Slam tournament finals
editWheelchair singles: 18 (9 titles, 9 runner-ups)
edit| Result | Year | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 2017 | French Open | Clay |  Gustavo Fernández |
0–6, 7–6(11–9), 6–2 |
| Loss | 2017 | US Open | Hard |  Stéphane Houdet |
2–6, 6–4, 3–6 |
| Win | 2018 | US Open | Hard |  Shingo Kunieda |
6–3, 7–5 |
| Win | 2019 | US Open (2) | Hard | Stéphane Houdet |
7–6(11–9), 7–6(7–5) |
| Loss | 2020 | US Open | Hard | Shingo Kunieda |
3–6, 6–3, 6–7(3–7) |
| Win | 2020 | French Open (2) | Clay |  Joachim Gérard |
6–4, 4–6, 6–3 |
| Loss | 2021 | Australian Open | Hard | Joachim Gérard |
0–6, 6–4, 4–6 |
| Win | 2021 | French Open (3) | Clay | Shingo Kunieda |
6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 2021 | US Open | Hard | Shingo Kunieda |
1–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 2022 | Australian Open | Hard | Shingo Kunieda |
5–7, 6–3, 2–6 |
| Loss | 2022 | Wimbledon | Grass | Shingo Kunieda |
6–4, 5–7, 6–7(5–10) |
| Win | 2022 | US Open (3) | Hard | Shingo Kunieda |
7–6(7–2), 6–1 |
| Win | 2023 | Australian Open | Hard | Tokito Oda |
6–3, 6–1 |
| Loss | 2023 | French Open | Clay | Tokito Oda |
1–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 2023 | Wimbledon | Grass | Tokito Oda |
4–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 2023 | US Open (4) | Hard | Gordon Reid |
6–4, 6–3 |
| Loss | 2024 | Australian Open | Hard | Tokito Oda |
2–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 2024 | Wimbledon | Grass |  Martín de la Puente |
6–2, 6–3 |
Wheelchair doubles: 27 (21 titles, 6 runner-ups)
edit| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 2016 | Wimbledon | Grass | Gordon Reid |
Stéphane Houdet Nicolas Peifer |
4–6, 6–1, 7–6(8–6) |
| Loss | 2017 | Australian Open | Hard | Gustavo Fernández |
Joachim Gérard Gordon Reid |
3–6, 6–3, [3–10] |
| Loss | 2017 | French Open | Clay | Gordon Reid |
Stéphane Houdet Nicolas Peifer |
4–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 2017 | Wimbledon (2) | Grass | Gordon Reid |
Stéphane Houdet Nicolas Peifer |
6–7(5–7), 7–5, 7–6(7–3) |
| Win | 2017 | US Open | Hard | Gordon Reid |
Stéphane Houdet Nicolas Peifer |
7–5, 6–4 |
| Loss | 2018 | Australian Open | Hard | Gordon Reid |
Stéphane Houdet Nicolas Peifer |
4–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 2018 | Wimbledon (3) | Grass | Gordon Reid |
Joachim Gérard Stefan Olsson |
6–1, 6–4 |
| Win | 2018 | US Open (2) | Hard | Gordon Reid |
Stéphane Houdet Nicolas Peifer |
5–7, 6–3, [11–9] |
| Loss | 2019 | Wimbledon | Grass | Gordon Reid |
Joachim Gérard Stefan Olsson |
4–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 2019 | US Open (3) | Hard | Gordon Reid |
Gustavo Fernández Shingo Kunieda |
1–6, 6–4, [11–9] |
| Win | 2020 | Australian Open | Hard | Gordon Reid |
Stéphane Houdet Nicolas Peifer |
4–6, 6–4, [10–7] |
| Win | 2020 | US Open (4) | Hard | Gordon Reid |
Stéphane Houdet Nicolas Peifer |
6–4, 6–1 |
| Win | 2020 | French Open | Clay | Gordon Reid |
Gustavo Fernández Shingo Kunieda |
7–6(7–4), 1–6, [10–3] |
| Win | 2021 | Australian Open (2) | Hard | Gordon Reid |
Stéphane Houdet Nicolas Peifer |
7–5, 7–6(7–3) |
| Win | 2021 | French Open (2) | Clay | Gordon Reid |
Stéphane Houdet Nicolas Peifer |
6-3, 6-0 |
| Win | 2021 | Wimbledon (4) | Grass | Gordon Reid |
 Tom Egberink Joachim Gerard |
7–5, 6–2 |
| Win | 2021 | US Open (5) | Hard | Gordon Reid |
Gustavo Fernández Shingo Kunieda |
6-2, 6–1 |
| Win | 2022 | Australian Open (3) | Hard | Gordon Reid |
Gustavo Fernández Shingo Kunieda |
6–2, 4–6, [10–7] |
| Win | 2022 | French Open (3) | Clay | Gordon Reid |
Gustavo Fernández Shingo Kunieda |
7–6(7–5), 7–6(7–5) |
| Loss | 2022 | Wimbledon | Grass | Gordon Reid |
Gustavo Fernández Shingo Kunieda |
3–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 2022 | US Open | Hard | Gordon Reid |
Martín de la Puente Nicolas Peifer |
6–4, 5–7, [6–10] |
| Win | 2023 | Australian Open (4) | Hard | Gordon Reid |
Maikel Scheffers Ruben Spaargaren |
6–1, 6–2 |
| Win | 2023 | French Open (4) | Clay | Gordon Reid |
Martín de la Puente Gustavo Fernández |
7–6(11–9), 7–5 |
| Win | 2023 | Wimbledon (5) | Grass | Gordon Reid |
Takuya Miki Tokito Oda |
3–6, 6–0, 6–3 |
| Win | 2024 | Australian Open (5) | Hard | Gordon Reid |
Takuya Miki Tokito Oda |
6–3, 6–2 |
| Win | 2024 | French Open (5) | Clay | Gordon Reid |
Takuya Miki Tokito Oda |
6–1, 6–4 |
| Win | 2024 | Wimbledon (6) | Grass | Gordon Reid |
Takuya Miki Tokito Oda |
6–4, 7–6(7–2) |
References
edit- ^ "King's Birthday Honours: Sarah Hunter and Ian Wright among those included". BBC Sport. 17 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ "ParalympicsGB Alfie Hewett". British Paralympic Association Official Site. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ a b Armstrong, Mark. "Norfolk tennis ace Alfie Hewett is making a career of fighting against the odds after Roland Garros victory". Great Yarmouth Mercury. Archived from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
- ^ "Alfie Hewett: 'My sport is being snatched from me. It's not fair'". iNews. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
- ^ George, Martin. "Paralympic star Alfie Hewett among students honoured at City College Norwich further education awards". Eastern Daily Press. Archived from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
- ^ Freezer, David. "Family's joy as Norwich tennis ace Alfie Hewett is crowned Wimbledon champion". Eastern Daily Press. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- ^ "Amazing news that @alfiehewett6 has become the World No.1!". LTA via Twitter. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- ^ "US Open 2019: Alfie Hewett and Andy Lapthorne win singles & doubles titles". BBC. 9 September 2019. Archived from the original on 10 September 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- ^ "French Open 2020: Britain's Alfie Hewett completes double by winning singles title". BBC. 10 October 2020. Archived from the original on 10 October 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- ^ "Cancellation of The Championships 2020". Wimbledon. 1 April 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ a b c d McElwee, Molly; Gareth A Davies; Sarah Rendell (3 September 2021). "Day 10: Alfie Hewett facing end of Paralympic career — due to being deemed not disabled enough". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ^ "Britain's Alfie Hewett cleared to continue in wheelchair tennis". ESPN. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "No. 64082". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 2023. p. B13.
- ^ "Australian Open 2024 results: Alfie Hewett, Gordon Reid and Andy Lapthorne win titles". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Reid & Hewett help GB defend World Team Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Hewett & Reid win fifth French Open doubles title". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Hewett wins singles to complete career Grand Slam". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ "Wimbledon 2024: Alfie Hewett & Gordon Reid crowned doubles champions for a sixth time". LTA. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ "Alfie Hewett beaten by Tokito Oda in Paralympics gold-medal match at Paris 2024". BBC Sport. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.