Cantley wheelchair tennis star Alfie Hewett secured the biggest win of his career today at the Open de la Baie de Somme in France, when the 16-year-old world No. 1 ranked junior beat men’s singles world No. 7 Nicolas Peifer of France 6-4, 6-2 in the first round of this week’s ITF 1 Series event.
Hewett is playing his third successive tournament in Europe and his second in France in three weeks after reaching his first ITF 1 Series men’s doubles final at the Sardinia Open in Italy last week.
Hewett’s reached two successive singles quarter-finals in le de Re and Sardinia over the last two weeks, bowing out to Belgian’s world No. 5 Joachim Gerard on both occasions.
However, having taken Gerard to a third and deciding set in the first of those quarter-finals, Hewett’s riding the crest of a wave. The British men’s No. 4 and world No. 17 was never behind against Peifer and has set up a quarter-final against his doubles partner this week, British world No. 3 and defending Baie de Somme champion Gordon Reid.
“I’m very happy with how I played today, it’s my first win over a world top 10 ranked senior player and the last few weeks have been great. My tennis is really progressing at the moment and I'm really enjoying playing against the top players in wheelchair tennis,” said Hewett, who partnered Frenchman Michael Jeremiasz to reach the men’s doubles final at the Sardinia Open last week. Hewett and Jeremiasz were only denied the title by top seeds Gerard an Stephane Houdet in Saturday’s final.
“I’m learning a huge amount and getting better every time and it’s great experience to play doubles with the likes of Michael and Gordon,” added Hewett, one of six Brits on the Tennis Foundation’s Wheelchair Tennis Performance Programme contesting this week’s tournament in France.
Hewett partners Reid later today to face Peifer and his fellow Frenchman Frederic Cattaneo in the first round of the men’s doubles.