Hewett loses US Open wheelchair singles final
Britain’s Alfie Hewett was beaten 6-2 4-6 6-3 by France’s Stephane Houdet in the US Open wheelchair singles final.
Hewett had hoped to add the title to the doubles trophy he won on Saturday.
But Hewett, who won his maiden Grand Slam singles trophy at the French Open this summer, succumbed to fatigue.
Hewett, 19, beat compatriot Gordon Reid in a three-hour semi-final on Saturday before teaming up with the Scot to defeat 46-year-old Houdet and Nicolas Peifer in the doubles final later on.
Fellow Briton Andy Lapthorne lost 7-5 3-6 6-4 to his American doubles partner David Wagner in the quad singles final.
It was a repeat of Wagner’s victory over Lapthorne in August’s British Open final.
“Not to be for me today in the singles,” Lapthorne tweeted.
“Fair play to Wags, he was brilliant at the end. I’ll be back.”
Hewett was also gracious in defeat.
“Congratulations to Steph for a great final,” he said. “I just didn’t have enough in the tank after such an exhausting singles and doubles yesterday.
“But I’m proud to be in the final in my first time here. There’s a lot of positives to take and hopefully I can be back next year.”
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The teenager was outplayed by Houdet in the opening set but recovered from a break down in the second to level when the Frenchman double-faulted.
However, Hewitt failed to hold his serve once in the final set and Houdet clinched his first Grand Slam singles title in four years.
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