Image source, Getty Images
- Author, Emily Salley
- Role, BBC Sport journalist at Wimbledon
Britain’s Alfie Hewett says he is “not far away” from winning the men’s wheelchair singles title at Wimbledon as he begins his bid to complete a career Grand Slam.
An eight-time Grand Slam singles champion, Hewett has won every major bar Wimbledon.
The 26-year-old, who has been beaten in the final in each of the last two years, faces British wildcard Ben Bartram in the first round on Tuesday.
“Hopefully this time I can get it over the line and create some history,” world number two Hewett told BBC Sport.
Hewett came agonisingly close to Wimbledon singles glory in 2022 when he had four opportunities to serve out for the trophy.
His long-term rival, the now-retired Shingo Kunieda of Japan, fought back for a dramatic victory to complete his own career Grand Slam.
“When you are close to a title, it is quite heartbreaking to be so close,” said Hewett.
Hewett’s game still in ‘developmental stage’ on grass
Hewett will also compete in the men’s wheelchair doubles at Wimbledon alongside partner Gordon Reid, with whom he has won five titles in SW19.
Asked why he had not been able to add the singles title at Wimbledon, Hewett said his game is “still in its developmental stage on grass”.
He added: “Over the last couple of years at Wimbledon – being on Court Number One, more people watching, more media – these are all new things I’m having to learn which we don’t have week in, week out on the tennis circuit.
“There’s no excuse and I think it is where my game is at if I am being brutally honest with myself.”
Hewett will have to play one extra match than in previous years if he is to reach the final again, with the Wimbledon singles draw having doubled to include 16 players – aligning with the three other Grand Slam tournaments.
“The sport has evolved, the game has evolved and I am a big part of that, but on the grass there are areas of my game that it doesn’t complement as much as the clay or a hard court,” he said.
“I’m trying not to put that pressure on myself currently because it’s Wimbledon. There’s a lot of expectations and pressures in itself, let alone the pressure of trying to complete a massive personal achievement.”
‘Sinner looked like an amateur’
Image source, Andrew Eichenholz/ATP Tour
A proud ambassador for wheelchair tennis, Hewett has always been keen to help build the sport’s visibility.
He gave Jannik Sinner – now the world number one in men’s singles – a crash course and “new-found appreciation” in wheelchair tennis earlier this year.
“It was a really cool moment in Miami to have that chance,” Hewett told BBC TV.
“He obviously had a go; he couldn’t push the chair. He looked like an amateur, and me saying that about Sinner is something.
“For him to give up his time was obviously big for us and it certainly gave him a new-found appreciation of wheelchair tennis.”