Alfie Hewett recognised for stellar season
2023 World Champion Alfie Hewett has been awarded a hat-trick of year-end awards.
Alfie Hewett’s remarkable 2023 wheelchair tennis season has earned the British No.1 an unprecedented hat-trick of awards recognition, including a place on the BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist.
Hewett became the first wheelchair player to be named Player of the Year by the British Tennis Journalists' Association. It was reward for a stellar season that has included two Grand Slam singles titles, three Grand Slam doubles titles and the year-end championships in singles and doubles. He also, for the first time, is both the year-end No.1 men’s singles and men’s doubles rankings.
Supported by the LTA’s Wheelchair Elite Programme, Hewett was confirmed as International Tennis Federation (ITF) Men’s Wheelchair World Champion on 11 December after ending 2023 at the top of the men’s singles rankings for the first time in his career.
He said:
"To finish 2023 as World Champion for the first time in my career is so special. It was a goal that me and my team set at the start of the year, so we’re very happy to hit that.
"It’s been a special year all-round. The Australian Open was big for me, to get the two wins there after results in previous years and while another Wimbledon title is always special, there is still unfinished business there in singles."
Hewett was also named among the six athletes shortlisted for the 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. It’s the first time that a wheelchair tennis player has been named on the list for the main award, after Hewett and his doubles partner Gordon Reid were named among those shortlisted for the Team of the Year Award in 2021. They became the first men’s wheelchair doubles partnership to complete the calendar Grand Slam.
The winner of a total 17 titles across singles and doubles this year, winning all 10 of his doubles titles alongside Reid as they extended their record-breaking success to 18 titles at the majors, Hewett added:
"My team have been great, and I appreciate all the support from them this year and I feel we have again seen continued progression and exposure for the amazing sport of wheelchair tennis.
"I’m ever grateful to the parties who are giving us the platform to showcase our sport and to bring about ever-greater parity for us. I only hope to inspire more kids to get into the sport of tennis going forward and as part of that we have an exciting year ahead with the Paris Paralympics, so stay tuned!"
Image credit: Getty Images courtesy of LTA
