Kunieda returns to No. 1 with victory at Tweed Heads
Japan's Shingo Kunieda has returned to the top of the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour men's singles rankings after taking the title at the Tweed Heads International in Australia.
Kunieda’s ongoing battle with Gustavo Fernandez for the top spot in the men’s singles rankings took its latest turn partly courtesy of Joachim Gerard’s 6-7(9) 6-3 6-4 victory over top seed and 2019 ITF World Champion Fernandez in the quarterfinals in Tweed Heads.
Thereafter it was down to Kunieda to do the rest and he delivered in fine fashion, beating Alfie Hewett 6-4 6-0 in the final to return to world No. 1 for the first time since last July (by a mere two points).
Kunieda wasn't the only Japanese player to taste success at the start of a Paralympic year as countrywoman Yui Kamiji overcame some early challenges at the first Super Series tournament of the year to claim the women’s singles crown.
Kamiji laboured to win her women’s quarterfinal against South African Kgothatso Montane in three close sets, but the world No. 2 faced an even tougher time in her semifinal.
Her three previous career matches against compatriot Momoko Ohtani had all ended in 6-2 6-0 victories, but that all changed in Tweed Heads as Ohtani snatched the first set from Kamiji. As heavy rain brought a delay of more than six hours to the start of the penultimate day of competition, Kamiji had seemingly wrestled back control as she led 2-0 in the final set when the semifinal was suspended due to more rain.
Sunday’s resumption finally brought a 4-6 6-4 6-3 victory for Kamiji, who advanced to a title decider against third seed Jordanne Whiley, with the Briton having defeated Wimbledon champion Aniek van Koot to reach her first Super Series final since returning from maternity leave last February. But it was to be Kamiji’s tournament as the top seed put aside her earlier trials to take the spoils 6-4 6-1.
Australia’s Dylan Alcott secured a clean sweep for the top seeds and a home victory in the quad singles.
An eventful week for Alcott saw the world No. 1 join the commentary team for the Australian Open’s Rally For Relief in aid of those affected by Australia’s bushfires before he travelled to Tweed Heads to open his 2020 season.
No stranger to quick turnarounds between broadcasting duties and competing, Alcott had no easy introduction to the new season. But after victory over reigning British Open champion Niels Vink the 29-year-old set about securing another straight sets win over Andy Lapthorne, the world No. 2-ranked reigning US Open champion, who was the only player to beat Alcott throughout 2019.
Having previously laid out his own wish to donate money to the bushfires relief effort for every ace he serves through to the end of the Australian Open, Alcott moves on to Melbourne yet to drop a set in 2020. He beat Dutchman Sam Schroder 6-3 6-3 in the Tweed Heads final, having come from a break down in both sets.
But it was a different outcome in the quad doubles final as Schroder and Vink upset reigning Australian Open champions Alcott and Heath Davidson 6-3 2-6 6-3 for their first Super Series doubles title together.
There was another first Super Series title for the combination of Kamiji and Ohtani after the Japanese second seeds edged out British top seeds Lucy Shuker and Jordanne Whiley 4-6 6-4 7-6(3) in the women’s doubles final.
Meanwhile, Rio Paralympic gold medallists Stephane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer and silver medallists Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid started the last day of competition at the semifinal stage of the men’s doubles. Both partnerships negotiated their semifinals in three sets, but the first Super Series title of the year went to Hewett and Reid, who were awarded a walkover in the final.