Hewett & Reid star as GB win fifth World Team Cup

This post was originally published on this site.

Hewett & Reid star as GB win fifth World Team Cup

ByEmily Salley

BBC Sport journalist
  • Published

Great Britain became World Team Cup champions for the fifth time as Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid joined forces to secure a 2-1 victory over Japan in Florida.

Japan were the defending champions of the competition, which is the wheelchair tennis equivalent to the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup.

However, Hewett and Reid ensured Britain got their hands back on the trophy with a 6-1 6-2 win in the deciding doubles match against Tokito Oda and Daisuke Arai.

“We’re really happy to get the title back,” said Reid, who was also part of the World Team Cup-winning squad alongside Hewett in 2015, 2019, 2023 and 2024.

Hewett added: “It’s the first time it’s come down to the deciding doubles for us, so I’m just really happy that we got over the line.

“It’s always a privilege to play for your country and there’s been a great atmosphere and team spirit again this week between all the lads.”

Reid got Britain off to a winning start on Saturday with a commanding 6-2 6-2 victory over world number 21 Arai, who he has now beaten in all five encounters between the pair.

The start of the second singles match was then delayed because of extreme heat in Orlando, with Hewett and Oda returning to court six hours later when temperatures had cooled.

Just a week after beating the world number one in the singles final of the US Open, Hewett was unable to repeat his feat as he fell to a narrow 6-4 7-5 loss.

“I’m a bit disappointed that it wasn’t a 100% day after my loss in the singles, but it was a really high-level match and just came down to a few points in both sets that could have gone either way,” he said.

However, Hewett bounced back in the doubles alongside Reid as Britain, who also had 21-year-old Ben Bartram in the team and were captained by Martyn Whait, backed up their wins against South Korea and the Netherlands earlier this week.

Captain Martyn Whait, Ben Bartram, Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid hold the World Team Cup trophyImage source, Frank Molter

Hot this week

Key takeaways from BBC interview as Earl Spencer defends claims about King

Earl Spencer speaks to the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg ahead of the publication of his book about his sister Diana, Princess of Wales.

Watch: Earl Spencer says he felt Charles had ‘giddy tone’ during call after Diana’s death

Princess Diana's brother has been interviewed by the BBC ahead of the release of his book on the late Princess of Wales.

Watch: Emotional Earl Spencer says he misses sister Diana every day

"This is my swan song too. I'm not here to bang on about Diana, this is my final word, celebration of her", Earl Spencer told presenter Laura Kuenssberg.

Princess Diana: My Sister’s Story

In this UK exclusive, Laura Kuenssberg interviews Earl Spencer.

Topics

spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img