Hewett triumphs in all-British Wimbledon opener

In an exciting all-British first-round encounter at Wimbledon, Alfie Hewett kickstarted his 2024 campaign with a convincing win over compatriot Ben Bartram. The 26-year-old, a two-time finalist in the wheelchair singles category at Wimbledon, defeated Bartram with a comfortable scoreline of 6-1, 6-4. SSP reported.

Despite an impressive start to his Wimbledon debut, with an early break of Hewett's serve, 18-year-old Bartram was unable to maintain his advantage. Hewett displayed his resilience, dominating the remaining games to secure the first set comprehensively.

Moving into the second set, Hewett quickly broke Bartram's serve and then doubled his lead in the fifth game with a strong performance. Although Bartram managed to stage a partial comeback with a well-executed cross-court winner, the exchange of breaks favored Hewett. The match concluded on a high note as Hewett served his way to victory, finishing with an ace in a show of remarkable skill.

Next up, Hewett is set to face 53-year-old Frenchman Stephane Houdet, a seasoned Wimbledon campaigner and three-time semi-finalist in the event. The match promises an intriguing contest between two highly talented wheelchair tennis players.

Rain delays during the initial stages of the tournament caused the wheelchair events to begin a day later than scheduled. Notably, Britain's Gordon Reid, the 2016 champion, is set to take on Gustavo Fernandez of Argentina, the third seed, while reigning champion Diede de Groot and the top seed in the women's singles will face Japan's Momoko Ohtani. Additionally, Lucy Shuker from Britain will compete against Kgothatso Montjane from South Africa.

Conditions permitting, the quad wheelchair singles quarter-finals will also take place, featuring Britain's Andy Lapthorne pitted against American David Wagner. As the competitions progress, fans eagerly await further exciting matches filled with exceptional displays of skill and determination.