Bingham’s David Phillipson and Ruddington’s James Shaw have clinched a Nottinghamshire double at the National Wheelchair Championships, winning the men’s doubles and quad doubles respectively.
David Phillipson won his fourth National men’s doubles title in Gloucester after partnering Norfolk’s world No. 1 ranked junior Alfie Hewett to victory.
The second seeds reaching the final for the loss of just one game before upsetting top seeds Marc McCarroll and Gordon Reid, the top two ranked Brits, 7-5, 2-6, 6-4.
Two-time Paralympian Phillipson also improved on his seeding in the men’s singles, defeating second seed McCarroll 6-1, 7-6(6) to extend his winning career head-to-head record over the British No. 2 and earn a place in the final for the second successive year. A second upset proved beyond Phillipson as top seed, defending champion and world No. 3 Gordon Reid retained his title 6-1, 6-2.
However, British No. 3 Phillipson goes into his Christmas and New Year training block content with the latest additions to his trophy cabinet.
“To pair up with Alfie for my fourth National doubles title and beat Marc again is a nice way to end 2014,” said Phillipson, the 2008 National men’s champion, who will turn 26 on New Year’s Day. “After a long season we are all pretty tired and it was a bit of a tired performance in the singles final, but obviously I’m very happy to reach the final again.“
Shaw, the newest player to join David Phillipson on the Tennis Foundation’s Wheelchair Tennis Performance Programme, won his first National title in Nottingham and vows to go into 2015 inspired by pairing up with London 2012 silver medallist and 2014 US Open Champion Andy Lapthorne and encouraged by his own progress this season.
The 19-year-old collected his first national title, partnering US Open champion Lapthorne to beat Richard Green and Ian Payne 3-6, 6-0, 6-3
“To be asked to play with Andy Lapthorne after only being on the Great Britain program for a month was a real honour,” said Shaw.
“To be at the masters a couple of weeks ago watching Andy play, then to be on the same side of the court competing with him was an incredible moment.
“This year has been one for making huge strides forward and this result shows that.
“Being national champion is something I couldn't have dreamed of at the start of the year.”