French Open champions Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid are among a talented squad of six wheelchair tennis players announced today as members of the ParalympicsGB squad that will compete at the rescheduled Paralympic Games in August.
Hewett claimed his fifth Grand Slam crown when he retained his French Open title in a straight sets victory over Japan’s Shingo Kunieda earlier this month, having earlier claimed the doubles title with playing partner Reid.
Reid has enjoyed further recent success on grass last week, beating Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez to win the cinch Championships title at The Queen’s Club in London.
The pair will be joined in Tokyo by Rio 2016 quads silver medallist Andy Lapthorne as well as Jordanne Whiley and Lucy Shuker, doubles bronze medallists at both London 2012 and Rio 2016; Paralympic debutant Dermot Bailey completes the squad.
Rio 2016 saw Hewett and Reid go head-to-head in the first ever all-British men’s singles final where it was Scot Reid who came out on top, claiming gold in the final against his British teammate 24 hours after the pair won doubles silver.
Hewett commented: “I’m so pleased to have been selected to represent GB at another Paralympic Games. Rio was an incredible experience and to have another chance to play for my country means so much to me. We have a strong team again so I’m hopeful we can come back from Tokyo with another good haul of medals.”
For Whiley, the chance to pull on the ParalympicsGB vest for a fourth consecutive Summer Games is an opportunity she relishes: “I’m so proud to be representing my country once again and super excited to get out to Tokyo and give it my all,” said the 28-year-old.
ParalmypicsGB Chef de Mission Penny Briscoe said: “Five years ago at Rio 2016 the British team returned home with no fewer than six medals – a gold, three silvers and two bronze – the most medals out of all the competing nations. I was extremely proud then and I know these six athletes will do the nation proud once again.
“I am delighted to welcome all six brilliant athletes to the ParalympicsGB team and look forward to seeing just what they are capable of on the court in Tokyo in just over 60 days’ time.”
Cain Berry, LTA Paralympics Team Leader, said: “This is always an exciting moment both for us as a governing body and the athletes, all of whom richly deserve their places in the team and will do their country proud I’m sure. It’s been a phenomenal effort from a number of organisations to get these Games on, and we are really grateful to the BPA for their continued support. We’re all really excited for Games time now.”
Courtesy of ParalympicsGB
