Hewett will now play world No.2 Tokito Oda in the final for the second year in a row.

Thereafter it was all one-way traffic as Hewett moved 5-0 up in the second set and this time he served out the match to love after a final game that included three emphatic forehand winners.

Supported by the LTA’s Wheelchair Elite Programme along with fellow semi-finalist Gordon Reid, defending champion Hewett said, “This is our third time already this year playing against each other, so we’re quite familiar with each other’s game styles.

"I’m obviously just delighted to get through because he’s someone who brings a lot to the court and he’s given me plenty of challenges, especially in Australia a couple of years ago in the final.

“He’s an incredibly tough player to play against and to get through that first set gave me a little bit of breathing room and definitely helped me to relax in that second set.”

With Hewett and Reid having completed their Grand Slam campaigns for 2023 by contesting the first all-British men’s wheelchair singles final at one of the four majors as Hewett lifted his fourth US Open title, Reid made a bold attempt to repeat the feat.

The world No.5 and 2016 Australian Open champion pushed second seed Oda all the way in two absorbing sets before Oda held on to snatch a 7-6(4), 7-5 win after a little under two hours of play.

British hopes of two more Australian Open finals resume on Margaret Court Arena on Friday 26 January after rain delayed Hewett and Reid’s bid to reach a fifth successive men’s doubles final in Melbourne. 

The four-time defending champions are due to play Japan’s Daisuke Arai and Takashi Sanada, while fellow Brit Andy Lapthorne and American David Wagner continue their bid for a fifth Australian Open quad doubles title together.  

Should Hewett, Reid and Lapthorne win their doubles semi-finals, the finals are scheduled for later in the day.

Keep up to date with all of the British action at the 2024 Australian Open.