Australian Open: Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid win wheelchair doubles title

Alfie Hewett (left) and Gordon ReidGetty Images

Alfie Hewett (left) and Gordon Reid (right) were defending champions in the men's wheelchair doubles

Britons Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid successfully defended their Australian Open men's wheelchair doubles title with victory over Stephane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer of France.

The top seeds came through 7-5 7-6 (7-3) to claim their 10th Grand Slam title together - and fifth in a row.

They equalled the British record set by brothers Laurence and Reginald Doherty, who won 10 Grand Slam doubles titles at Wimbledon between 1897 and 1906.

"It's been an amazing ride," said Reid.

"When we started playing with each other Alfie was just a young kid coming up, finishing school, and I was number one in world doubles at the time.

"It was a bit of a gamble to be honest, at that stage, obviously one I'm happy that I took, and it's paying off nicely for us now."

Hewett added: "To win back to back is an awesome feeling, especially with the situation at the moment, not knowing how many opportunities we're going to have to compete this year."

Britain's Andy Lapthorne and American David Wagner lost the quads doubles final to Australian pair Dylan Alcott and Heath Davidson.

Three-time defending champions Alcott and Davidson won 6-2 3-6 10-7.

Lapthorne took a break from tennis to focus on his mental health after the French Open in October, and admitted he had found it difficult in Melbourne at times.

"David's been very understanding of the situation and really encouraged me, even when I've been fairly useless at times on this trip," he said.

"Especially in the tie-breaker, all of a sudden the pressure comes and the anxiety comes and all those feelings I had back at Roland Garros start to come back again.

"It was tough, I know it probably hindered us, probably the reason why we didn't win. But I'm battling away and I'm trying my best."

There was also defeat for Britain's Lucy Shuker, as she and South African partner Kgothatso Montjane lost the women's wheelchair doubles final 6-4 6-1 against Dutch pair Diede de Groot and Aniek van Koot.

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