Hewett beats Oda to win 10th Grand Slam singles title

Hewett defeated Oda in the 2023 final to win his first Australian Open title

Australian Open 2025

Date: 12-26 January Venue: Melbourne Park

Coverage: Live radio commentary on Tennis Breakfast on BBC 5 Sports Extra, plus live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website and app

Britain's Alfie Hewett beat defending champion Tokito Oda in the Australian Open final to win his 10th Grand Slam wheelchair singles title.

The Japanese player clinched Paralympic gold over Hewett last summer and also defeated the 27-year-old in their previous three major finals.

But second seed Hewett got the better of the 18-year-old with a 6-4 6-4 victory to claim his second singles title in Melbourne.

It concludes a successful tournament for Hewett, who won a sixth successive doubles title alongside Gordon Reid on Friday.

"Tokito, we've had so many battles and finals over the last couple of years, so thank you for letting me have this one," Hewett said.

"To try and beat this guy in a final is an impossible task it seems, so I am very happy and overwhelmed with emotion to get my hands on this trophy."

Hewett won his first Wimbledon singles title last year to complete a career Grand Slam.

'Federer v Nadal of wheelchair tennis'

Hewett was world number one when Oda emerged as wheelchair tennis' new star by winning his first major title at the 2023 French Open - just one month after turning 17.

The pair have met 19 times, with Oda winning on 10 occasions.

However, Hewett has proved the better player on hard courts and was emotional as he claimed his ninth win over Oda on the surface.

"I didn't expect me to start blubbering on the court, to be honest, but I'm probably harbouring a few feelings from the last couple of matches that we've played," said Hewett.

"It does knock you deep down, your belief and confidence in the big moments. For me to do it and prove to myself more than anyone that I can rise to the occasion against a player like him, it was very overwhelming."

Hewett compared his contests with Oda as wheelchair tennis' version of the Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal's rivalry.

"Tokito has come on tour and made us all just be better because we have to be," he said. "Otherwise, he will dominate.

"You have to be challenged. You have to be pushed to your limits. We have a good relationship, and I'm glad he's pushing me, and I'm sure I'll be pushing him, and he will say the exact same. It's a bit of a Federer-Nadal situation - wheelchair version."