'Hungry for it': Hewett aims for career Golden Slam at Paris 2024
Great Britain’s Alfie Hewett had barely had chance to process the monumental achievement of conquering Wimbledon when the prospect of winning Paralympic gold at Paris 2024 was hurled at him.
“Give me a break” was his initial response – although, in fairness, 2024 could prove a seismic and career-defining year for the Norwich-born 26-year-old should he indeed top a Parisian podium in September.
Hewett described winning the men’s wheelchair singles title at Wimbledon, sealed courtesy of victory over first-time Grand Slam singles finalist Martin de la Puente of Spain, as a “lifelong ambition”.
A matter of hours later, he was celebrating again as he and trusty partner Gordon Reid claimed their sixth Wimbledon men’s doubles title by defeating Japanese duo Tokito Oda and Takuya Miki.
Hewett will enter the Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Event, which gets underway in the French capital on 30 August, as the only player in the men’s draw with career Grand Slams to his name.
The prospect of a career Golden Slam, whether in singles or doubles – perhaps both, is now very real for a player who has won the singles and doubles at all four Grand Slams. He also occupies the much-coveted world No. 1 spot in both singles and doubles.
“When it’s the only achievement not in your locker, it’s going to be on your mind,” said Hewett. “Gordon and I have talked about it for a long time.
“We have two silver medals, and we go in as strong contenders for doubles gold. We’ll be hungry for that. As a singles player also, I’ve experienced a silver medal and a bronze medal match.
“It’s interesting. Wimbledon comes around every year, so you know you’re going to get another opportunity. The Paralympics, I feel, is slightly different because it’s once every four years.
“I don’t believe I’ll put pressure on myself in the same way as I have with Wimbledon but, as I say, when it’s the only achievement not in your locker.... Expectations will be high, but I’m not thinking about that right now.
“I need to allow my brain to relax and I need to enjoy and celebrate winning Wimbledon. I also need to chill out, but in a couple of weeks I will be fully focused on the Paralympics.”
Hewett is a three-time Paralympic silver medallist having won doubles silver alongside Reid at the 2016 Paralympics Games in Rio de Janeiro and then also at Tokyo 2020.
He also made the singles podium at Rio 2016 after losing to Reid in the gold medal match and was denied a singles medal at Tokyo 2020 by the same opponent.
Hewett, however, will be gunning for gold in Paris having become one of just four players – Shingo Kunieda, Diede de Groot and Dylan Alcott are the others – to claim a career Grand Slam in singles.
Perhaps the time is nigh for Hewett to achieve another career goal and make this a truly golden summer for himself and Great British wheelchair tennis.