Andy Lapthorne completed a memorable two days for players on the Tennis Foundation’s Wheelchair Tennis Performance Programme when he won the US Open quad singles final to lift his first Grand Slam singles title.
World No.3 Lapthorne is a three-time Australian Open quad doubles champion and he reached his first Grand Slam quad singles final in Melbourne in 2013. However, after making his US Open debut last season he signed off in spectacular style on his return to New York, beating American world No. 1 and two-time champion David Wagner 7-5, 6-2.
After Jordanne Whiley and her Japanese partner Yui Kamiji completed a calendar year of Grand Slam women’s doubles titles on Saturday, British players end the final Grand Slam of the year with two titles.
It was a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for Lapthorne, who played Wagner on Saturday in his third and last contest in the round-robin phase of the quad singles. Wagner won that match 6-3, 6-1, but with the two players finishing in the top two positions at the end of the round robin and going forward to the final, Lapthorne snatched Sunday’s opening set 7-5. He then won the last four games of the second set to seal his fourth victory over Wagner this season.
“For the US Open to be my first Grand Slam is so special because I love this place, the whole city is just great. I've visualised that match point before and when it happened I couldn't believe it! That's what I've always dreamed of,” said an emotional Lapthorne.
“David is a legend of our division, so to beat him makes it all the more special. We always have tough battles as he sets the standard. I'm looking forward to David and the others coming to my back yard in London for the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters in November now.
“Today was all heart and I felt like I served really well. I kept it consistent rather than big and that was my plan beforehand. My dad told me I always do things two years after Andy Murray and I've done it again with the title here,” added Lapthorne, who ends the week having beaten the world’s top two ranked players after defeating 2013 US Open champion and world No. 2 Lucas Sithole of South Africa in his second round-robin match.
“I can't say thank you enough to my mum and dad for everything they've done for me. The Tennis Foundation and the LTA support us unbelievably well and they deserve huge credit. This title isn't for me, it's for everyone who's always supported me through tough times.
“It probably won't hit me until I get home and my family meet me at the airport but I've got a few days off in New York first. It’s two years today until the start of the Rio 2016 Paralympics and this is another step on the journey to Rio and is definitely the first of many big titles!”
Geraint Richards, the Tennis Foundation’s Head of Disability Player Performance declared himself ‘elated’ with the British success at the US Open.
“It’s been a remarkable few days here in New York for our Tennis Foundation Programme and our players,” said Richards. “Not only have we got two new Grand Slam champions and the first British tennis player to ever win a calendar year Grand Slam, we’ve had four Grand Slam finalists, with Gordon Reid finishing runner-up in the men’s doubles and Andy also finishing runner-up in the quad doubles. This success is true testament to all the hard work we do as a unit and to the invaluable support we receive from UK Sport. With Rio now being just two years away, we will leave here and work hard to keep the momentum going on the journey to Brazil.
“We also have our Ticket2Tokyo Talent ID Festivals coming up later this month and the performances of our players at the US Open show exactly what can be achieved with talent and hard work, so I hope this success will inspire lots more people to want to take up our fantastic sport.”
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