Japan’s Oda Tokito had to save a match point before defeating Alfie Hewett in the wheelchair tennis men’s singles final at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on Saturday (7 September).
The 18-year-old won the last four games in succession to beat the world number one 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 in a thrilling encounter and succeed compatriot Shingo Kunieda as Paralympic champion.
Perhaps looking to avenge his and Miki Tayuka’s loss to Team GB’s Hewett and Gordon Reid in Friday’s men’s doubles final, Oda came out firing and sealed the first set in just 46 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
At his first Paralympic Games, the reigning French Open champion and four-time Slam singles winner looked right at home while Rio 2016 silver medallist Hewett looked somewhat shellshocked.
However, the Briton, who has won nine Slams of his own, showed his experience to take the second set 6-4.
The decider was a classic with Hewett breaking serve for a 3-1 lead. That became 5-3 with the Englishman serving for the match and a second gold of these Games.
Hewett brought up championship point but Oda saved it before breaking back for 4-5. And the teenager roared back to take the next three games and secure the title.
Oda is one of wheelchair tennis’ brightest stars. And following the retirement of three-time Paralympic champion Kunieda in January 2023, it looks like the baton has well and truly been passed.
It was Kunieda who inspired Oda to start playing aged 10. Not long after, Oda became the youngest boys’ world number one in the junior wheelchair tennis rankings.
At June’s French OpenOda shared his excitement for competing at Paris 2024with the message ‘Je t’aime, Paris’ (I love you, Paris) on his racket bag. “I love this city, so I wanted to show my feeling,” said Oda ahead of claiming his fourth Slam singles title three months before his Paralympic triumph.
