Andy Lapthorne finished runner-up in his first Grand Slam quad singles final on Saturday after a brave effort ended in a three set defeat by American world No. 1 David Wagner at the Australian Open.
Lapthorne made a tremendous start to the final, securing a double break to lead Wagner 4-0. There were plenty of deuce games throughout an enthralling contest and the fifth game was by far the longest, with Wagner finally taking it to get himself on the scoreboard and then retrieving one of the breaks against him to make it 4-2 before Lapthorne served out the set.
The second set was almost a mirror image of the first as Wagner took a 5-0 lead before Lapthorne secured his next game. Lapthorne saved a set point a 5-1, but Wagner took his next opportunity to force a deciding set.
The American moved 2-0 up in the final set before Lapthorne edged two deuce games to level at 2-2, only for Wagner to hold his service to love to make it 4-2. He maintained his cushion to make it 5-3, but Lapthorne saved two match points as he reduced the deficit to just one game.
However, Wagner earned himself another opportunity to close out the match and eventually the 2011 champion regained the title 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.
The tournament did finish on a high for world as No.4 Lapthorne enjoyed a warm down with world No.1 Novak Djokovic.
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