Lexus British Open 2023: Alfie Hewett puts in dominant performance to win men’s singles title
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Alfie Hewett lifted the men’s singles title at the Lexus British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships for the second time in three years after a dominant win over Belgium’s Joachim Gerard.
Hewett defeated the fourth seed 6-0, 6-2 in just 51 minutes to wrap up his second ITF Super Series singles trophy and fifth title of the season – adding to his triumphs at Roland Garros, Melbourne, Georgia and Rotterdam.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion has now completed the Lexus British Open double, capturing both the singles and doubles titles in successive days.
That was up there with one of my best performances ever.
“That was up there with one of my best performances ever,” said Hewett. “The last three singles finals I’ve been in, I’ve ended up on the wrong side of, so it was good to get the win this time around. It feels like a bit of a clean slate now – it’s good to move on and perform like that today.
“I’m trying to be more consistent in my game and reaching finals is what we all want to do and this is why we train day in and day out.
“It’s been an incredible summer for me and Gordon, it’s definitely going to be up there when we eventually look back at our careers as one of the most special. I think it’s been a real turning point for wheelchair tennis in Britain – the publicity we’ve had over the last six weeks has been phenomenal and not something that we could have even imagined. Hopefully next year we can put on a bigger and better show.”
Hewett and Gerard have faced each other three times this summer and came into the match with one win apiece, but Sunday’s final in Nottingham was no competition. The 25-year-old Brit put in one of the most impressive performances of his career against the two-time Grand Slam champion, dropping just eight points as he took the first set in 25 minutes.
Hewett showed immense speed, power and consistency in all areas of his game and the Belgian star didn’t have an answer to match the world No.2s performance. Gerard got himself on the scoreboard at the start of the second, but there was only ever going to be one winner and with the chance to seal his second title at the Lexus Nottingham Tennis Centre, the British star held to love.
