Wheelchair tennis takes centre stage at Paris 2024 Paralympics as favourites dominate
Alfie Hewett, Tokito Oda, Martin De La Puente and Gustavo Fernandez - the world's top four players began their Paralympic wheelchair tennis tournament at Roland-Garros Stadium on Sunday with massive wins.
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The world's top four wheelchair tennis players kicked off their Paralympic tournament on the clay courts of Roland-Garros Stadium on Sunday. Unsurprisingly, Alfie Hewett (Great Britain), Todiko Oda (Japan), Martin De La Puente (Spain) and Gustavo Fernandez (Argentina) all qualified for the last 16, in matches with different profiles.
Hewett, the number 1
The world's No. 1 player made a good start to his very first Paralympic tournament! Great Britain's Alfie Hewett won his match and will play in the last 16. ‘I couldn't wait for the matches to start, because while the others were playing I was just practising,’ admits the Norwich native.
Hewett beat Segei Lysov of Israel in two sets, giving up just one game. He's a player I didn't know,’ admits the 26-year-old Para athlete. He was a good opponent to get me into the swing of things.
Oda, the heir
Para tennis players are real superstars in Japan,’ explains Stéphane Houdet, France's number one wheelchair tennis player.
They had the legend Shingo Kunieda (four Paralympic gold medals) and that contributed a lot to the development of the sport. Kunieda's heir is none other than Tokito Oda. At just 18, the Japanese is the world No. 2 and has already won the French Open in singles twice.
This Sunday, Oda faced Britain's Ben Bartram in his first match in the competition and was thrown off balance, being pushed all the way to a tie-break in the second set (6-2, 7-6(4)). ‘He played really well, it was great tennis,’ said the Japanese.
De La Puente makes it easy
From court 14, Martin De La Puente beat Argentina's Ezequiel Casco. The world number 3 also proved unstoppable, losing just two games (6-2, 6-0). It's a very special court because the people are so close to the players,’ enthused the Galician. With my family in the stands, I felt right at home.
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Fernandez in front of the French public
Gustavo Fernandez found himself in difficult conditions for the first match of his fourth Paralympic Games.
The Argentine player had to face Frenchman Frédéric Cattaneo, as well as the French public. Despite a moment's hesitation in the second set, the Para athlete won 6-1, 6-4.
The former world No. 1 was delighted to be back in Paris and at the Stade Roland-Garros. It's the best place in the world to play tennis,’ he said. The crowd was incredible and it was magnificent.