Top seeds Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid launched their campaign for a sixth US Open wheelchair doubles title with an emphatic victory in New York. The British duo put on a commanding performance in their opening match at Flushing Meadows, asserting their authority early on to seal a comfortable straight-sets win and book their place in the semi-finals of the final Grand Slam of the season.
Dominant Opening Victory and Semi Final Setup
Facing France's Stephane Houdet and China's Zhenxu Ji in the opening round, Hewett and Reid dictated the tempo from the baseline and net alike. The top-seeded pair combined crisp volleying with sharp court coverage to close out a 6-3 6-1 victory. After battling through a competitive opening set, the British duo elevated their level in the second set, allowing their opponents just a single game before wrapping up the match.
The victory sets up an intriguing semi-final clash against Japan's Tokito Oda and Argentina's Gustavo Fernandez. Oda and Fernandez boast strong credentials at Flushing Meadows, having captured the US Open doubles championship title in 2025. The upcoming matchup promises to test the top seeds as they continue their push toward another historic final in New York.
Distinguished Partnership Record and Singles Outlook
Hewett, 28, and Reid, 34, possess one of the most decorated partnerships in wheelchair tennis history. As a team, the pair have accumulated an extraordinary tally of 25 Grand Slam doubles titles, including five US Open crowns. Their track record on the hard courts of New York underlines their status as tournament favorites as they target trophy number six. Beyond their doubles commitments, both British players are scheduled to begin their respective singles campaigns on Wednesday.
Mixed Results in the Quad Wheelchair Doubles Draw
Tuesday's schedule also delivered contrasting outcomes for British competitors in the quad wheelchair doubles event. Britain's Andy Lapthorne made a successful start to the tournament alongside South African partner Leon Els. The pair fought through a tight opening set against the American tandem of David Wagner and Andrew Bogdanov, edging the tie-break before storming through the second set to complete a 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 victory.
Conversely, there was disappointment for Britain's Greg Slade and his Australian partner Heath Davidson. Facing the tournament's top seeds, Niels Vink of the Netherlands and Guy Sasson of Israel, Slade and Davidson were unable to find a foothold in the match, surrendering a 6-0 6-0 defeat. Vink and Sasson have established a formidable reign over the division, having swept all three Grand Slam titles held in 2026 and winning the last six major titles in total.
