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Alfie Hewett OBE is Britain\u2019s number one men\u2019s wheelchair tennis playerCredit: Getty<\/p>\n
At 27, Hewett already has more Grand Slams<\/a> than Novak Djokovic<\/a> and Andy Murray<\/a> combined, such is his dominance in the sport.<\/p>\n Jack Draper’s withdrawal<\/a> and Emma Raducanu’s early exit<\/a> have only increased the pre-tournament feeling that he remains Britain\u2019s best hopes of success at Flushing Meadows this month.<\/p>\n Hewett is itching to return to New York after last year’s event was cancelled following a scheduling conflict with the 2024 Summer Paralympics.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s exciting,\u201d The two-time defending champion of the Wheelchair men’s singles at the US Open<\/a> exclusively told talkSPORT.com.<\/p>\n \u201cGrand Slams only come about four times a year, and this is the last one of the year. <\/p>\n \u201cSo it’s not been the ideal preparation with a few injuries that have kept me out of the practice court for a little while in this recent block, but right here, right now, I’m in a good place.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I’ve put all that aside. I’m just trying to get some volume in and trying to get my level to where it needs to be to be able to compete. And what happens next week will happen. But I’m feeling optimistic about being back there.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s a place that I’ve typically done well in the past, and I’ve really enjoyed playing in New York. It’s obviously such a great vibe. <\/p>\n \u201cSo whatever happens, it’ll be great to be back there after missing it last year, and I’ll try and give it a good shot.\u201d<\/p>\n Rivals are more than aware of the challenges of toppling Hewett at the Grand Slam level, and thanks to Lexus, so is talkSPORT.com.<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n Hewett has gone head-to-head against his own championship-winning serve using a new bespoke machineCredit: Lexus 10<\/p>\n Fellow Lexus ambassador Katie Boulter has also had her signature style insertedCredit: Lexus<\/p>\n While the world\u2019s best players will soon battle it out with Hewett at the US Open, talkSPORT.com has already had to withstand his powerful serve.<\/p>\n On the machine, Hewett added: \u201cYeah, it was exciting because it’s a question that we’ve always asked ourselves, ‘What would it be like to play against something that can replicate yourself and your own ability?’\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, Lexus have created this incredible bit of kit which simulates and replicates what it’s like. And I think there were a few things that were really intriguing with how the pace of the ball comes through. <\/p>\n \u201cI could definitely see similarities between the machine and what I do on a practice court or a match court, essentially. So yeah, it was good to get a bit of a feel.<\/p>\n \u201cIf anything, it opened up my eyes a little bit to why everyone keeps beating me sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cClearly, yeah [I am annoying to play against],\u201d Hewett joked. \u201cI was getting frustrated. It was definitely a lot more consistent than me, that’s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n talkSPORT.com verdict on Lexus\u2019s new Signature Shot machine<\/p>\n I’ve seen static tennis ball machines before, machines that fire out the same old shots again and again. <\/p>\n This new Lexus technology not only replicates the specific shots of professional players, but also zooms around the court, changing angles, depth, and pace. <\/p>\n One minute you’re facing an Alfie Hewett drive down the line, the next minute the robot chips a dropshot across court. <\/p>\n It’s really amazing what this tech can do. <\/p>\n Once the robot was winched up into serving position, it was absolutely deadly, firing shots at around 60mph down the service line. <\/p>\n I can only imagine what facing Alfie’s actual serve in the 80s\/90s would be like!<\/p>\n Alfie Hewett US Open prize money<\/p>\n That’s an extremely high bar, coming from someone who has reached the final of every Grand Slam this year in BOTH singles and doubles.<\/p>\n Now Hewett arrives at the US Open competing as part of a $1.69 million (\u00a31.25m) total pot for all wheelchair players.<\/p>\n His win rate is a staggering 87 per cent (20-3 in singles) – 86 per cent in doubles (12-2) at the US Open, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary of wheelchair tennis.<\/p>\n One of his chief competitors for his men’s singles crown is ironically Gordon Reid<\/a>, who will again be his partner in their bid for a sixth US Open men’s wheelchair doubles title.<\/p>\n Discussing how he balances that teammate relationship when he has to face his close friend in the singles, the Paralympic gold medalist admitted: \u201cI definitely think it’s evolved over time.\u201d<\/p>\n Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid<\/p>\n \u201cOne, we’ve had to learn as individuals how to manage that, but also as a team, obviously, because a lot of the time you’re going to be playing the singles in the morning and then doubles in the afternoon,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n \u201cSo when we get back together, whether we’ve played against each other or one of us has won or one of us has lost, there could be some slight hangover for that person. <\/p>\n \u201cSo being able to get the best out of your partner in that moment, in that situation, is really crucial and sympathising with them because we’ve both been in that position of losing a big match and then having to play again a few hours later.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you’re still carrying those disappointing emotions or even ones of elation or fatigue if it’s been a long one. But we’re good friends, and no matter what happens on the singles court, we respect each other as singles players. <\/p>\n \u201cI think there’s always an element of space that’s probably needed beforehand and afterwards to allow that person to focus solely on the individual aspect of it. But if we’ve played each other in, let’s say, a big match, an hour later afterwards, we’ll be together again chatting about the doubles because we want to do well there.\u201d<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n Hewett faces US home favourite Charlie Cooper in the singles and doubles with Reid<\/p>\n That connection is part of the reason Hewett has managed to remain so motivated, alongside another evolving relationship – with himself.<\/p>\n \u201cIt does change over time [his motivations throughout such a gold-laden career],\u201d Hewett added.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I was first starting off in the professional game, it was more about probably just winning. And that was slightly more about the immaturity of where I was at, and just wanting to take all the glory as much as I can.<\/p>\n \u201cSo it was very outcome-driven. Over time, obviously, I’ve learned that that’s not necessarily sustainable. <\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n Hewett and Reid completed the calendar Slam at the US Open in 2021Credit: Getty<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of my motivation now comes from working on things on the practice court and just wanting to be better, to be honest with you. <\/p>\n \u201cOf course, numbers are what people remember at the end of the day, but I think for me to witness how much I’ve improved, whether it be my tennis game, physical game or mental game, and see those developments on the bigger stages like a slam. That’s what gives me real satisfaction.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be able to work for weeks on end on something and then be able to demonstrate in a slam final and it be a big factor for why you win, I think, is just as rewarding as the win itself.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that’s why I’m still highly motivated. And even after 33 Grand Slams, we don’t really let off.\u201d<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n 33 slams, a career grand slam and a gold medal isn’t bad going…Credit: Getty<\/p>\n That mentality is one of many reasons tennis fans were almost as glad as Hewett himself that he was cleared to continue his career in 2021.<\/p>\n Hewett, who underwent surgery at six months for a congenital heart defect, also suffers from a rare hip abnormality, Perthes Disease.<\/p>\n His ability to walk, despite being severely impaired, initially took him outside the revised 2019 International Tennis Federation classification guidelines that would have curtailed his career, before the ITF amended its criteria two years later.<\/p>\n Another four years and 15 Grand Slam wins later, Hewett revealed: \u201cIt was a long time ago now. It certainly feels that way. <\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n Hewett was cleared to continue his career after a change in ITF classification rulesCredit: Getty<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve obviously kicked on and moved on from that whole process. But yes, I learned a lot of lessons during that two-year cycle.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was uncomfortable, and it wasn’t easy to continue playing when I knew that potentially there were things that were happening that may or may not dictate my future in the sport, which ultimately you want it to be on your terms. But these things happen, and it happened for the better of the sport. <\/p>\n \u201cSo I had to work hard with my psychologists at the time and my team, who were incredibly supportive. <\/p>\n \u201cI tried to just take each event as it came, tried to do as well as I could because I didn’t want it to be an excuse.<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n Reid (2nd L) and Hewett (3rd L) met King Charles at Buckingham Palace in NovemberCredit: Getty<\/p>\n \u201cIf it were my last year or years on tour, I didn’t want that to be the reason why it was unhappy and more of a disappointment. So I tried to see it all as a glass-half-full rather than a glass-half-empty approach.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, the classification changed at the end of 2021, and I was able to continue. So it made me stronger for it, absolutely. It made me appreciate the here and now a lot more and being in the present moment, because you never know when something could be taken away from you.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was obviously a classification thing at that time, but it could be an injury in the future or something like that. So yes, it was definitely a big learning curve.\u201d<\/p>\n Hewett has more than made use of the opportunity to keep learning in the years since, even with the slightest of changes.<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve recently changed my rackets to Yonex now,\u201d he continued. \u201cAnd a big part of that was because I felt like the racket could offer me a couple of man-hours more in my serve. And it comes down to those fine margins at the end of the day.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven’t hit the 100-mile-an-hour mark yet, which has been frustrating me for quite a few years now. That is my target. I want to hit the 100.\u201d<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n Hewett will hope his new Yonex racket fires him to glory at Flushing MeadowsCredit: getty<\/p>\n With his mental resilience, there will be little doubt over whether he\u2019ll reach that target.<\/p>\n Hewett added: \u201cIt’s weird. I always say I actually feel more comfortable when I’m behind than when I’m in front, because I go into sort of instinct mode, which is I’ve got to change things and I’ve got to change it now. <\/p>\n \u201cIt’s almost an element of focus and grit that, you know, just 5-10 per cent more, and that can be the difference. <\/p>\n \u201cTennis is all about momentum anyway.<\/p>\n![\"Hewett](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Lexus-Alfie-Hewett-Shot-Machine.Chysl6x-.png\")
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