In a historic milestone for British wheelchair tennis, two players have successfully advanced to the quad singles quarter-finals at the US Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships. Greg Slade and the two-time champion Andy Lapthorne both delivered impressive performances in New York, showcasing tenacity and skill.
Slade, currently ranked eighth in the world, demonstrated remarkable mental fortitude in his opening match on Wednesday. After a challenging start, he managed to turn the tide against Brazil’s Leandro Pena with a tight score of 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(9). Slade found himself trailing 0-2 and 6-9 in the deciding tiebreak but rallied to secure the win. Reflecting on his performance, Slade expressed satisfaction with how he maintained his composure under pressure. “I’m really pleased with myself for how I managed to grind through it,” he said. “I’ve been working hard on my mental game, believing that I can win from anywhere.”
Lapthorne, who is well acquainted with success at this tournament, navigated past South Africa’s Donald Ramphadi, ranked ninth globally, with a decisive 6-2, 6-3 victory. This win sets up a quarter-final clash for Lapthorne against Slade’s Australian doubles partner, Jin Wodman. Lapthorne admitted that he wanted to channel the frustration of his previous day’s doubles loss, stating, “I needed to come out today and unleash some of that and make myself feel a little bit better.”
Joining Slade and Lapthorne in the quarter-finals is Alfie Hewett, currently the world number two, who is also making waves in the doubles category alongside Gordon Reid. Hewett secured a swift victory against American wild card entry Charlie Cooper, decimating his opponent with a score of 6-0, 6-2. Hewett acknowledged his need to refine his performance as he prepares to face Paralympic silver medalist Tom Egberink in the next round.
Reid, ranked fifth in the world and a finalist in the 2023 US Open, faced a tougher challenge against Daniel Caverzaschi but ultimately triumphed with a score of 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-1. Reid rallied back after trailing in the second set, asserting his dominance in the final set. “I managed to shorten the points and play aggressively. That’s how I need to play more consistently moving forward,” he remarked.
On a less favorable note, Lucy Shuker’s campaign ended in the singles competition after suffering a 6-3, 6-0 defeat to Diede de Groot, a six-time US Open champion. Shuker, however, is set to return to the court for her women’s doubles matches on Thursday.
Amidst the fierce competition, the resilience shown by these British players signals a promising future for their sport, as they continue to forge ahead in one of the most prestigious events in wheelchair tennis.
