Like waiting for London buses, Belgium’s Joachim Gerard was without a Grand Slam singles title for so long and now two have come along at once. Well, in quick succession at least and what better place to trot out that overused line than Wimbledon.

Gerard was in inspired form as he dispatched home favourite and 2016 champion Gordon Reid on Court No. 3, winning 6-2 7-6(2), to land the second men’s wheelchair title of his career – and indeed season – and his first here at the Wimbledon Championships.

His success continued an impressive campaign for the 32-year-old who conquered all before him at the Australian Open in February to secure a maiden and much-cherished Grand Slam singles triumph.

“It feels amazing,” said world No. 4 Gerard, who overcame Great Britain’s Alfie Hewett and Stephane Houdet of France in the earlier rounds. “I knew I could do one Grand Slam, I knew I could do two and I know I can do many more.

“But when you actually win, it feels completely different. It has been an amazing week in singles with such great results – I love it here – and I want to keep my focus for the next tournaments.

“The mental side of the game and the improvements I have made is one of the keys to my form this year. I have worked so hard to improve but have also worked a lot on the physical and tennis side.”

With two of the season’s Grand Slams safely in his back pocket, Gerard certainly seems to be hitting form at an opportune time, with the Paralympic Games in Tokyo only weeks away.

He won bronze in Rio de Janeiro five years ago and has his sights set on a podium finish and a different coloured medal this time around. He also believes he is capable of regaining the world No. 1 spot which he last held in December 2016.

“There are no limits to what I want to achieve,” he said. “My goal is to be world No. 1 and stay there for as long as I can. 

“I will do the best I can in every tournament and at the Paralympic Games my goal is to go for the gold, for sure. But we know there are many players who all want the best medal they can get. But, as I say, my goal is to go for the gold.”

Despite being forced to save break points in the second game of the clash, which would have given Reid a 2-0 advantage, Gerard found his rhythm and duly claimed the first set in some style and with relative ease.

A gleaming trophy was seemingly destined for his clutches after he surged into a commanding 4-1 lead in the second set, only for Reid to retaliate and take the next three games to level matters.

Gerard, however, was not to be denied and prevailed in the tiebreak, gaining some sort of revenge for his defeat to Reid – their only previous meeting in a Grand Slam singles final – at the 2016 Australian Open.

As expected, Gerard also had to contend with a British crowd who were cheering passionately and incessantly for Reid. While joking that he can recite some of the songs from previous Wimbledon visits, he concedes that overcoming partisan support was not always his strongest suit, but it is now something which is becoming less arduous.

“I don’t have a favourite song because I try not to listen and I’m in my bubble,” he added. “I always have the ‘Gordon Reid and Alfie’ one from doubles in my head, and it has been in my head for many years.

“But to play against that is a big mental process and a few years ago I would have been p****d off because I heard that and miss balls because I heard that, but now I just focus on my game and do what I have to do – that is the difference.”