Inspiring British duo eyeing Paralympic dream after Wimbledon milestone
Gordon Reid couldn'tt help but joke about the start of his Wimbledon journey after doubles partner Alfie Hewett revelled in all the inspiring messages they've received after their latest triumph.
It's been a long time since Reid's first match at SW19 was played "in front of three men and his dog and my mum and my sister", but he and Hewett are now swiftly becoming household names after taking their sport to new heights. The British pair are the dominant force in men's wheelchair tennis and won their 18th Grand Slam when they secured another Wimbledon victory in front of their adoring home crowd earlier this summer.
It was something of a watershed moment as Reid and Hewett claimed victory on Court 1 and having their match played on Wimbledon's second largest stadium was something of a defining moment for the sport, which has continued to see its popularity rise, helped massively by the success of two homegrown players. The absence of home favourites like Emma Raducanu allowed Hewett and Reid to take centre stage - where they didn't disappoint.
Hewett told Mirror Sport : "The occasion was the biggest part of winning that title. We've won four already here, but knowing we had the opportunity to win on No.1 court, we knew it would be quite the atmosphere, so to get there and get over the line, you feel a bit more pressure in front of your home fans. You want to win, but to win for everyone supporting you, so this one meant five per cent more."
His playing partner Reid, who is six years his senior, has been around for that bit longer. His success as a singles player, as well as in doubles, has outlined him as one of the modern greats and he is well placed to reflect on the sport's mammoth rise.
Roger Federer 'in talks' to join BBC's Wimbledon coverage in emotional return
"From my first experiences of Wimbledon where no one knew anything about wheelchair tennis and you might get people passing by the court," he said. "They might watch a few games then leave, now I feel like people know the players and they come specifically to watch those matches."
Hewett and Reid are now the example for others but have had to push through barriers themselves. Hewett even jokes that his parents, having encouraged him to take up sport when he first began using a wheelchair, were the apprehensive ones when it came to making it his career.
"I was coming through, leaving school and in my head I always wanted to play professional," he said. "But my mum and those around me were pushing for me to go to college and university. I was very driven and I just wanted to play sport.
"They changed their tune, at the beginning they pushed me into tennis. Four of five years later I'm the one saying 'I just want to play every tournament,' but they sort of pushed me back into education, but they just wanted me to have a Plan B. Now I get where they were coming from."
Alfie Hewitt and Gordon Reid continued their doubles' dominance with another Wimbledon title this summerThe 25-year-old hails from Norfolk and is reminded of the growth of his sport whenever he returns home. Local centres have dedicated areas where multiple players attend to take part in the sport on a weekly basis.
Reid and Gordon are now keen on using their status to promote the sport at grassroots level and highlight the pathways that exist. They recently featured in the 'Play Your Way to Wimbledon' scheme, which is backed by Vodafone. For the first time ever the event also included visually impaired and learning disability sections.
The LTA currently funds regional competitions and performance programmes for Visually Impaired, Learning Disability and Deaf Tennis, alongside Wheelchair. Great Britain are a leading nation across all impairments, with the Learning Disability Team becoming the most decorated medallists on the world stage at the Virtus Global Games in June 2023.
Visually Impaired GB Team are set to compete in the World Blind Games next week in Birmingham, which will be the first time Visually Impaired Tennis has been included in a multiple sport event.
Alfie Hewett began his tennis career as a youngster in East Anglia"I think that's one of the great things about tennis - the majority of people can play it," said Reid. "Doesn't matter your age, your ability. Visually impaired, learning disability, you're in a wheelchair - it is still days. Events like 'Play Your Way to Wimbledon' are really, really fundamental to highlight that. To show that, no matter who you are, you can get involved and enjoy it."
Hewett echoed that sentiment as he added: "Disabilities has moved on, sport has become such a major player in bringing back their social lives, helping their mental health. That's the powerful meaning behind sport, especially in the early stages of people's sporting lives.
Roger Federer needs "something special" to accept BBC Wimbledon role
"Wheelchair tennis wasn't as accessible as it is now, but now when I go through my DMs after Wimbledon there's people who've seen it for the first time who are now fans, or might take it up, that's what we want."
Reid, who beyond his doubles success has also won two Grand Slam single's titles, admits it is their success on the court that first gives them the chance to be the examples they've become - not the other way round.
"The impact doesn't happen without us having the success," Reid said. "This year at Wimbledon, if we don't make the final it is not on Court 1 and not on TV. If we weren't there, then the impact can't happen. When you first start you want to be a great tennis player and then the rest is a bonus that comes with it."
Yet both men are conscious that they don't want the sport's growth and popularity to end with them. Their own triumphs are not a means to an end and Reid is already thinking about life when he puts the racket down. "When I stop my tennis career I'd love to give it more time and help with the growth up and down the country," he said.
Gordon Reid has enjoyed Grand Slam success in doubles and singles"Yes it is great for people to support and go and watch the British players, but what happens in five or ten years when there's no British players playing? You still want people to support wheelchair tennis. Hopefully that's where I want it to end up."
Hewett has also suggested that greater collaboration with the men's and women's tours would be a logical - and an achievable - next step that would allow the wheelchair game to receive even more coverage and opportunities.
"I think there's a lot that can be done. It is at all ranges of the pyramid," he said. "For us, outside of the Grand Slams, to be more integrated with ATP and WTA would be a huge step for the exposure and visibility. We've got a few tournaments already in the calendar, where there's already a wheelchair draw and it is like a mini Grand Slam for us.
"The treatment and experience is very professional. Also, these grassroots tournaments and opportunities to be bigger and have more nationally, but also globally as well. I know in the UK we're doing a lot of good things but hopefully that can expand so it is not a couple of nations doing well."
Before that, though, there's plenty of titles up for grabs. Few, if any, have eluded them, but defeat in Tokyo two years ago still wrangles. A Paralympic Gold is the only achievement that doesn't exist on their glittering CV - leaving all eyes on Paris next summer.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
