Five titles for wheelchair tennis ace Alfie in Belgium
Alfie Hewett, the 14-year-old wheelchair tennis player from Cantley, enjoyed great success at two tournaments in Belgium.
He secured five titles in all, one being his first-ever senior men’s draw singles title, while also moving up to 86th in the world men’s rankings – a personal high.
At the inaugural Memorial Jens Vanherck tournament, the youngster was in particularly good form. He claimed a maiden men’s main draw singles title while also taking the men’s doubles and junior singles titles. Prior to the tournament, Alfie had won three men’s second draw titles but justified his top seeding to go on and beat Dutchman Rutger Bakker 6-2, 6-1 in the men’s singles final.
Alfie then partnered Dick Eikenaar from Holland to lift the men’s doubles title (defeating Tarik Charbi and Roland De Meersman 6-1, 6-2) and beat Spain’s Martin De La Puente 6-1, 6-0 to also take the junior singles title.
Attention then turned to the Ath Open where Alfie came up against world number 11 Joachim Gerard from Belgium in the first round of the men’s main draw. Gerard proved too strong and won 6-1, 6-1 but Alfie took another junior singles title, beating Dutchman Diederik De Groot in the final, then toppled Rody De Bie (Netherlands) 6-2, 6-1 in the men’s consolation final.
Alfie was competing in Belgium before attending the Paralympics in London as part of the Paralympic Inspiration Programme. The Games may have come too early for Alfie on this occasion but he will gain a lot of experience and knowledge as he sets his sights on Rio 2016.
Memorial Jens Vanherck
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Men’s singles main draw: 1st Rd bye; Qtr beat Ivan Kindt (Bel) 6-0, 6-4; Semi beat Martin De La Puente (Esp) 6-0, 6-1; Final beat Rutger Bakker (Ned) 6-2, 6-1.
Men’s doubles main (partner Dick Eikenaar(Ned)): Qtr bye; Semi beat Martin De La Puente/Felix Garcia Perez (Esp) 7-5, 6-2; Final beat Tarik Charbi (Mar)/Roland De Meersman (Bel) 6-1, 6-2.
Junior singles: Qtr bye; Semi beat Felix Garcia Perez (Esp) 6-0, 6-1; Final beat Martin De La Puente (Esp) 6-1, 6-0.
Ath Open
Men’s singles main: 1st Rd lost to Joachim Gerard (world number 11) 6-1, 6-1.
Men’s consolation draw: Qtr beat Carlos Anker (Ned) 6-2, 6-0; Semi beat Kriostof Michils (Bel) 6-1, 6-2; Final beat Rody De Bie (Ned) 6-2, 6-1.
Junior singles: Qtr beat Carlos Anker (Ned) 4-0, 4-0; Semi beat Nico Langmann (Ned) 4-1, 4-1. Final bt Diederik De Groot (Ned) 4-1, 4-1.
