NEW YORK — Britain's Alfie Hewett beat top seed Tokito Oda 6-0 7-6 (7-5) to clinch his fifth US Open men's wheelchair singles title at Flushing Meadows, denying the Japanese star a calendar-year Grand Slam in 2026.
Hewett, 28, described his first-set display as "possessed" after saving a break point in the opening game before closing the opener with a superb backhand return winner. He then fought back from a double break down in the second set, saving three set points for Oda to level the match before securing victory 7-5 in the tie-break to add to previous US Open wins in 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023.
The victory delivered Hewett an 11th Grand Slam singles title and came after losses to Oda in the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon earlier this year, including a 6-1 6-1 defeat at SW19 where he won only two games. Oda had also triumphed at January's Australian Open and arrived in New York having won the past six Grand Slam singles titles. Hewett told BBC Sport the Wimbledon loss made him "look in the mirror" and led to a period of reflection where he wanted to "be a little bit more like me." "I'm known for being just as fearless, brave and courageous in big moments and I felt I was everything but that in Wimbledon," Hewett said. "I was quiet, I was timid, I was a shell of myself." He added: "I think I have had six weeks of champing at the bit to come out and prove to myself that I can be more like that person."
Oda acknowledged the historic stakes after the defeat, saying on court: "Definitely I was trying to get the calendar year [Grand Slam] this year. This was the last part of it so it's really tough for me, but I think Alfie deserved it today."
The singles crown completed a double for Hewett in New York after he won the doubles title alongside fellow Briton Gordon Reid on Friday.