Hewett, Kamiji and Schroder seal Australian Open singles titles
Alfie Hewett, Yui Kamiji and Sam Schroder won their second, third and fourth Australian Open Wheelchair Championships singles titles, respectively, on the last day of wheelchair tennis at Melbourne Park
Shortly after Schroder sealed his fourth consecutive quad singles title at the Australian Open, he put both hands across his face to contemplate his win and wipe away the tears.
It has been a challenging couple of months he said, he is without a coach and his beaten opponent and fellow Dutchman Niels Vink was, until very recently, his long-standing doubles partner.
Joy and pride overshadowed any niggles though. Schroder looked out of it at 5-1 down in the first set on Kia Arena before winning the tightest of matches 7-6(7) 7-5.
“I made a few too many errors in the beginning. I always know there will be a point where I will start to get back in the match. There's a lot of matches where I'm down in the beginning and I find my way into it,” he said.
“Once I'm locked in, I stay there kind of. From experience I know I just have to stay relaxed, stay calm, keep trying to find ways to get back into it.”
Four titles in Melbourne is wonderful he said.
“It's very special for me to once again having won a tournament. After the first one, you want the second one. Unbelievable to have won the fourth one. It's really crazy when I think about it. I think winning a grand slam (tournament) is always very special.
“After the last few months, it's been quite rough. Really just proud of myself that I've been able to show this level this week. That ultimately made it extra special for me,” he said.
“They should rename the tournament after you, you have won four times in a row,” said Vink graciously. Vink leads their head-to-head matches 23-13.
As well as winning, playing a good and tight final is important in showcasing a positive image of wheelchair tennis globally, said Schroder.
“I think wheelchair tennis is something that we just really have to keep pushing to grow the size of the grand slams, but also other tournaments. I think it's a very important aspect of tennis in general. There's millions of people all over the world who have some form of a disability. I hope it's really empowering for them to see what we can do in the chair. That's why I want to be able to show a high level like this today.”
And without a coach to oversee him, there will be a small celebration smiled Schroder.
“Normally if I win a tournament, I try a piña colada. I think you guys already know that. There's some nice Canadian Clubs over here. I think I'll have a few of those.
Kamiji wraps up third Australian Open women's title
Top seed Kamiji took 76 minutes to get past Netherlands’ Aniek van Koot, seeded two, 6-2 6-2.
Astonishingly this was their 70th meeting with Kamiji now leading 49-21 and it is her third Australian Open women’s singles title since 2017.
The defending champion Diede de Groot was absent through injury and this was the first grand slam wheelchair women’s singles final not to feature the Dutch player since the French Open in 2020.
Kamiji was looking to claim her first major title since Paris (Roland Garros) that year.
“Most of the time the last few years I could make the final but couldn't win the title,” she said. “I think my last grand slam title was 2020. I'm really happy.”
It can’t be easy facing someone - and she and Van Koot are friends - for the 70th time. How on earth do you prepare?
“I have some new ideas against her, especially for today. I think I could manage a slice, backhand slice, more than usual. So it's a little bit different than other matches.
“We really know each other and we both are left-handed. I'm always trying to change some things, which I can't tell you.”
Kamiji is a delight to talk to and has stepped into the De Groot void seamlessly. She will be the player to beat in 2025.
Hewett snaps losing streak against defending champion Oda to regain title
The climax to a thrilling day was the men’s singles final between the world’s top two players and, arguably, as unexpected and comprehensive a dismantling as you can get.
Former world No. 1, Britain’s Hewett, has been usurped by Tokito Oda in the men’s wheelchair singles over the past two years, but no more.
Before today, Oda led Hewett 3-1 in grand slam finals - and 10-8 overall - including last year’s AO. He had also won their last five matches in all competitions. It has been some hold.
Hewett, though, was immense in the last match on Kia Arena, winning 6-4 6-4 in 96 minutes. So emotional was he that the tears flowed within seconds of shaking hands.
“I didn't expect me to start blubbering on the court but I'm probably harbouring a few feelings from the last couple of matches that we've played,” Hewett said.
“Obviously, they've been pretty big ones with them being in slam finals and the Paralympic final. It does knock you deep down, your sort of belief in the confidence in the big moments. For me to do it today and prove to myself more than anyone that I can rise to the occasion against a player like him, it was very overwhelming.”
Right down the middle of the court there was a sun and shade combo that made it difficult for spectators, but Hewett was in the zone. Nothing was going to stop him claiming his second Australian Open singles title.
Mentally he was strong and aggressive from the start. Be risky but not reckless he told himself.
“You can't rely on rallying down the middle because it's not the way against him. You have to be brave, you have to take risks and that's a little bit out of my nature to that degree.”
Hewett led 5-2 in the second before Oda edged back to 5-4. What was Hewett thinking at that point?
“There was a lot of thoughts about potentially history rewriting itself,” he said. “I managed to stop myself from getting too caught up in that moment and focusing on the past and stick to the present.”
Hewett wouldn’t quite commit when asked where his latest title at Melbourne Park ranks - up with Wimbledon his coach said - but clearly it means the world to him. And it sets up 2025 very nicely indeed.
Oda now leads 10-9. Be prepared for a big year.
Miranda and Cooper lift inaugural Australian Open Junior titles
Vitoria Miranda is 17-years-old and from Brazil. A week ago she won the Melbourne Wheelchair Open and today, on court 7 at Melbourne Park, she clinched her first grand slam junior title by beating the USA’s Sabina Czauz 0-6 6-3 7-6(4).
Miranda lost the eight opening games with Czauz imperious and the Brazilian looked done. But gradually she pulled herself back to seal the victory. Really, both players were winners. An epic.
Shortly after, on the same court, the American Charlie Cooper - also a winner of the 2025 Melbourne Wheelchair Open junior title - became the inaugural Australian Open junior wheelchair boys’ champion also, defeating Alexander Lantermann 6-2 6-2 in 55 minutes.