Hewett and Reid claim fifth Wimbledon men's wheelchair doubles title

The best atmosphere anywhere this Wimbledon so far? Very likely.

There was a near Davis Cup atmosphere on Court No. 1 as British pair Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid overcame Japan’s Tokito Oda and Takuya Miki to claim their fifth Wimbledon men's wheelchair doubles title together.

The stadium filled to near capacity once the women's singles final between Marketa Vondrousova and Ons Jabeur ended and word got out that there was an absolute cracker going down nearby.

The support for the 3-6 6-0 6-3 victors was immense. Earlier in the day, when Reid lost his singles semi-final to Oda, there had been voluble and partisan support from about 25 spectators (all known to him), the words of the Abba hit Mamma Mia adapted to show their appreciation of the Scot.

A few hours later, the same fans were on the bigger stage but the noise and frenzy was all around.

Even after two hours and 20 minutes of play, it seemed Hewett and Reid might never leave the court, signing balls and posing for selfies endlessly. And why not?

“We were fully conscious of the crowd because we could feel the noise getting louder and louder. Obviously it came to a crescendo at the end of the match,” said Reid.

“I think it helped get us over the line because it gave us that extra boost of energy. We knew probably 95 per cent of the crowd were hoping for us to win and supporting us. It's something we've never experienced before.

"We've played in some stadiums with big crowds, but I don't think ever one that's been so into the match, so supportive of us. It's something that I think we'll always remember.”

Much has changed since his first Wimbledon wheelchair match in 2008, Reid said.

“Nobody knew about wheelchair tennis," he added. "They'd maybe stop and watch a couple of points and move on. The sport wasn't promoted. It wasn't exciting. We weren't on any social media. That match on the court is obviously a highlight of how it's changed. It's all the little things that have added up to get to this stage.”

Hewett, meanwhile, referenced the importance of TV coverage in enhancing awareness of wheelchair tennis and its popularity.

“I know there will be a lot of people out there that would never have heard of wheelchair tennis," said Hewett. "They may have stuck on BBC Two today and seen us play and go, 'hang on a minute. It does exist. The sport does actually exist'.”

Oda has not seen the end of Hewett yet this Wimbledon and the two top singles seeds (Oda is No. 1) will face each other at 11am on Sunday on Court One.

There was an ominous warning for the 17-year-old Japanese from Hewett, however. 

“I’ll really try to go full guns in, full guns blazing, just give it my all,’ he said.

Earlier, Diede De Groot clinched her fifth Wimbledon singles title and amid extreme gusts of wind out on Court No. 3 that caused her opponent, and good friend, Jiske Griffioen no end of difficulty on serve.

“Warming up before the match at Aorangi, I think out of all the serves I hit, maybe three of them were into the court," said the world No. 1. "It was so difficult.

“I really just knew that it was going to be about those first few balls, like the serve and return. With the wind because you just don't know where the next ball is going to come.”

While the 6-2 6-1 win in just 53 minutes was largely regulation, 26-year-old De Groot has been looking at just how she can come to terms with a winning streak that now extends to 111 matches and 11 successive singles Grand Slam crowns.

“I've done it in a certain way for a very long time and it's working," she said. "But also it's the same every year, we go to the same tournaments,  I play the same opponents, I play the same game. 

“From January, I've tried to mix things up a little bit here and there, and give myself a little bit more time between tournaments to really rest and sort of come back down to earth, whereas usually I like to sort of keep going. I have Monday off, but Tuesday usually I'm already back on court because I have another tournament coming. That's how life has been for the past five years.”

Australia’s Heath Davidson will play the Dutch world No. 1 Niels Vink in Sunday’s  quad singles final. Thirty-six-year-old Davidson is playing only his second Wimbledon and overcame the second seed Sam Schroder in just under two hours. Vink, by contrast, dropped just one game in a whirlwind display against South Africa’s Donald Ramphadi.

Despite sealing the quad doubles title in two sets on Court No. 3 on Saturday afternoon against Davidson and Robert Shaw, Vink and Schroeder admitted that their true love lies with the singles game.

“Doubles is more fun but if I had to choose I would definitely go for singles,” said Schroder.

His partner Vink opted for the more diplomatic line.

“I just like to play tennis and doubles is a whole different game to singles, but of course doubles is important,” he said.