Winning combination Alfie Hewett (left) and Gordon Reid have won the doubles title together at the last nine Grand Slam tournaments
Y ou might think that Alfie Hewett was far too young to be asked whether he has been given “a new lease of life”, but the 24-year-old British wheelchair tennis player agrees that he is enjoying exactly that. Hewett, who began 2022 by winning his 19th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, had feared before the end of last year that his career might be over because of a change in the International Tennis Federation’s classification rules, but, having been given the green light to carry on, he is now looking forward to a bright future. “Yes, 100 per cent,” Hewett told tennishead when asked whether the confirmation of his eligibility had given him fresh impetus. “I’ve been quite open about that since I found out that I was able to continue. I’ve found training a lot more enjoyable.” Hewett was diagnosed with Perthes disease, which affects the hip and the femur, when he was just six. However, unlike some other wheelchair players, he can walk unaided for short distances. Three years ago the ITF decided to introduce a new system for classifying wheelchair players to bring the sport more in line with International Paralympic Committee guidelines. Whereas tennis players had previously been largely left to decide on their own suitability for wheelchair events, they now had to have their condition approved or otherwise by independent assessors. Hewett was initially advised that he did not meet the new criteria, but when he was assessed in Amsterdam towards the end of last year he was finally given the go- ahead to continue.
Hewett had had the threat of exclusion from the sport hanging over him for the best part of two years, though that in itself had proved an incentive as he tried to make the most of whatever time he had left playing wheelchair tennis at the highest level. After the threat was lifted, he admitted that he had wondered what effect it might have on his future motivation. “Speaking to my psychologist around Christmas and having sessions with her back home, I was unsure about what sort of Alfie would turn up in the new season,” Hewett said. “I’ve had a lot of pressure and a lot of reason to go on a tennis court and win and produce tennis. It gave me a focus and a tunnel vision that I think helped me in the end with my focus and my concentration. “But without that being in the back of my mind, it was like: ‘OK, now, when you don’t have that sword hanging over you any more, why are you playing?’ So I found Australia an absolute delight. I was just competing for the pure love of it – loving the game, wanting to be competitive. “I’ve matured a lot over the years and I’ve come to realise that this is a fabulous lifestyle and a great career to follow. I think having that nearly taken away gave me a purpose and a realisation that this is luxury. It’s certainly not easy, but compared to what a lot of other people go through this is a great lifestyle. I think it made me realise that. In Australia I was in a completely different mindset to where I’d been in the last couple of years.” Hewett, who has just reclaimed the No 1 spot in the world rankings, won his first Grand Slam singles title at the French Open in 2017. He has since added two more Roland Garros singles titles and
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