The stellar British partnership of Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid achieved a remarkable comeback at the US Open, securing the men's wheelchair doubles title for the sixth time. The top-seeded pair overcame a significant deficit, fighting back from being a set and a break down to reclaim their supremacy at Flushing Meadows. This victory marks their third consecutive Grand Slam doubles title of the season, cementing their status as one of the most dominant forces in wheelchair tennis history.
A Thrilling Comeback Under Pressure
The final match against Spain's Martin de la Puente and the Netherlands' Ruben Spaargaren was a test of resilience for the British duo. Initially, the match seemed to be slipping away from Hewett and Reid. After establishing an early 2-0 lead in the opening set, their rhythm faltered, allowing De la Puente and Spaargaren to win six consecutive games and wrap up the first set 2-6. The second set began with similar challenges, and the Spanish-Dutch combination looked poised for victory after breaking the British pair's serve to take a 3-2 lead.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically when Hewett and Reid managed an immediate break back. This pivotal moment sparked a surge of energy, with the British duo winning four consecutive games to take the second set 6-3 and force a deciding 10-point match tie-break. The tie-break was a tense, back-and-forth affair, but Hewett and Reid eventually built a crucial 7-4 lead. Despite a minor setback when Hewett served a double fault at 8-6, the pair maintained their composure to seal a 10-7 victory, ending their five-year title drought at the tournament.
Milestones and Partnership Longevity
This championship represents a monumental milestone for the 34-year-old Scottish player Gordon Reid, marking his 30th Grand Slam doubles title overall. Reid won his first major doubles title 11 years ago, and 26 of his historic achievements have been earned alongside Hewett. The synergy between the two players remains as strong as ever after more than a decade of competing together on the global stage.
Reflecting on their journey, the 28-year-old Hewett highlighted their strong desire to win again in New York, noting that they had not lifted this trophy in five years. "We've not won here for five years so this is something we've been desperate for and highly motivated for," Hewett said. He added that this would certainly not be their final appearance together, as they plan to play many more matches in the future. Commenting on their partnership, Reid joked about their long-term chemistry, saying, "It's been more than 13 years we've been playing together and he's not sick of me yet." He expressed hope that they still have several successful years of competitive tennis ahead of them.
Hewett Pursues Singles Glory
In addition to his doubles triumph, Hewett is on track for a potential double victory at the tournament. Earlier in the day, the second-seeded Briton secured his spot in the men's wheelchair singles final. He was leading comfortably at 6-0, 3-0 when his opponent, Argentina's Gustavo Fernandez, was forced to retire due to an injury. This swift victory allowed Hewett to preserve his energy for the grueling doubles final later that evening.
In the singles final, Hewett will face Japan's Tokito Oda, the reigning champion and top seed. Oda has been in sensational form, winning the first three Grand Slam singles titles of 2026. The Japanese star is currently aiming to complete a historic calendar Grand Slam, making the upcoming final a highly anticipated clash between two of the sport's finest competitors.
Junior Success for Great Britain
The tournament also witnessed an outstanding performance from another British player in the junior ranks. Matthew Knoesen enjoyed an unforgettable day of competition, sweeping both the junior boys wheelchair singles and doubles titles. Knoesen claimed the singles crown with a commanding 6-0, 6-2 victory over Sonny Rennison of Australia.
Knoesen then teamed up with Japan's Hirofumi Inoue to dominate the doubles final. The pair delivered a clinical performance, defeating the Anglo-Italian duo of Will Barton and Lorenzo Politano 6-1, 6-0 to secure Knoesen's second title of the day and cap off a highly successful event for British wheelchair tennis.
