Britain’s Alfie Hewett loses out in Wheelchair Masters final to world No 1 Tokito Oda

Join the Miguel Delaney team: Inside Football Get exclusive insights and behind-the scenes access to the Miguel Delaney: inside newsletter Football NewsletterJoin the Miguel Delaney inside Football newsletterBritain’s Alfie Hewett endured a one-sided defeat to world No 1 Tokito Oda in the Wheelchair Masters men’s singles final.The pair have locked horns in several of this year’s major matches, with Hewett winning the Australian Open showpiece but 19-year-old Oda victorious in both the French Open and Wimbledon finals, and again at the season-ending Masters.The teenager defended his title in style, beating Hewett – now a six-time finalist in seven years – 6-1, 6-1 in a little over an hour in Huzhou, China.It is three-time champion Hewett’s 13th defeat in 22 matches against the Japanese star.The Brit finishes his season with six singles titles, including the Australian Open, as well as six doubles titles alongside partner Gordon Reid, including two grand slams in Melbourne and Roland-Garros.But the pair could not add a seventh in Huzhou, losing a thrilling doubles final on Saturday to Spain’s Martin de la Puenta and Dutch partner Ruben Spaargaren.After a strong start the duo lost out in a hard-fought championship tiebreak, with the final score 6-4, 1-6, 14-12. De la Puente has now won the doubles crown three times in four years, winning last year with Belgium’s Joachim Gerard – again beating Hewett and Reid – while for Spaargaren it was third time lucky after defeat in two previous finals.Britain’s Andy Lapthorne also took home a runners-up medal in the quad doubles alongside Australian partner Heath Davidson. The duo had topped group B and beat the top seeds Guy Sasson, Niels Vink and came from behind in their semifinal to win the final.
2025-11-16 12:10:05