Hewett wins all-British first-round tie at Wimbledon

Alfie Hewett has won eight Grand Slam singles titles, but is aiming for his first singles success at Wimbledon

Two-time Wimbledon wheelchair singles finalist Alfie Hewett made a winning start to his 2024 campaign as he defeated fellow Briton Ben Bartram.

Hewett, 26, who lost in the final in both 2022 and 2023, gained a comfortable 6-1 6-4 win over his 18-year-old opponent.

Bartram made a dream start on his Wimbledon debut by breaking the Hewett serve in the first game of the match, but Hewett fought back to win all six of the remaining games in the opening set.

He then broke the Bartram serve immediately in set two, before gaining a double break in the fifth game as Bartram’s sliced backhand drifted wide.

A fine cross-court winner gave Bartram one of the breaks back, before the pair exchanged breaks but Hewett then served out the win, sealing victory with an ace.

Hewett will play 53-year-old Frenchman Stephane Houdet, a three-time Wimbledon semi-finalist, in the quarter-finals.

The wheelchair events finally began on Wednesday after rain had caused Tuesday's scheduled matches to be postponed.

There was disappointment though for Britain's Gordon Reid, the 2016 champion, as he lost 6-4 6-4 to Argentina's Gustavo Fernandez in his round-one match.

Reid had two break-point chances in the 10th game of the second set, but could not take either and was eliminated from the singles.

He will now focus on the doubles as he and Hewett will look to continue their incredible partnership that has seen them win 20 major wheelchair doubles titles together, including five successes at each of the Grand Slams.

Later on Wednesday, Britain's Lucy Shuker fell to a 6-2 6-0 defeat by South Africa's Kgothatso Montjane in the women's wheelchair singles.

But there was success for Britain's Andy Lapthorne in the quad wheelchair singles when he moved past American David Wagner with a 6-2 6-4 win to reach the semi-finals.