Main Photo: Laura Baccara
17/05/15
Alfie Hewett secured his third career win over a world top 10 ranked senior opponent to claim the men’s singles title at the 2015 Internazionali d’Italia, while partnering David Phillipson to finish runner-up in the men’s doubles in Rome.
Hewett, the world No. 1 junior, beat Dutch top seed and world No. 9 Tom Egberink 6-3, 6-4 to win his first ITF 2 title and his second singles title of 2015.
The 17-year-old Brit previously beat Nicolas Peifer of France at the 2014 Open de la Baie de Somme and Takuya Miki of Japan at the 2015 Sydney International Open when Pefier and Miki were ranked No. 7 and No. 9 respectively. However, his win over Egberink is Hewett’s first against a top 10 opponent in a singles final.
Hewett and Phillipson were unable to add the doubles title after Dutch second seeds Egberink and de Bie won the decider 6-3, 6-3.
16/05/15
World No. 1 junior and British men’s No. 4 Alfie Hewett won his singles semi-final against British No. 3 and second seed David Phillipson 7-6(2), 6-2 in Rome, while the two Brits later paired up to reach the men’s doubles final.
Hewett will bid to upset the odds again in Sunday’s men’s singles final when he takes on Dutch top seed and world No. 9 Tom Egberink.
The men’s doubles final will also be an Anglo-Dutch contest after Hewett and Phillipson won their last four match against Martin Legner of Austria and Steffen Sommerfeld of Germany 5-7, 6-1, 7-5. They will play second seeds Rody de Bie and Egberink for the title.
15/05/15
A Brit is guaranteed a place in the men’s wheelchair tennis singles final at the Internazionali d’Italia after David Phillipson and Alfie Hewett both won their opening matches against Italian opponents in the bottom half of the draw.
The latest wheelchair tennis tournament to take place alongside an ATP and WTA Tour event began with second seed Phillipson defeating wild card Luca Arca 6-2, 6-4.
Hewett had a tougher task against the experience of Italian No. 1 Fabian Mazzei, but bounced back from a set down to wrap up a 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory.
Hewett and Phillipson, top seeds for the men’s doubles, play Martin Legner of Austria and Steffen Sommerfeld of Germany on Saturday for a place in the final.
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