Oda clinches double AO success for Japan, De Groot, Schroder triumph

There were two expected wins and one marginal upset from the three wheelchair finals played in succession on the 5,000 seat Kia Arena on Saturday afternoon.

The stories though, little and large, were everywhere.

Let’s start with the top two women, the defending Diede De Groot and the challenger Japan’s Yui Kamiji. De Groot remember, almost never loses, nearly three years in any event anywhere now yet she toiled at times during her 7-5 6-4 singles win. It was anything but a procession despite the 27-year-old Dutch player claiming her 21st Grand Slam singles win.

The setting was bright and the arena in full sunlight with a good-size crowd enhanced by a strong Japanese contingent. De Groot, while commanding against the ever-smiling Kamiji, was not always comfortable.

“The last couple of weeks have not been going all my way with a little injury and a cold, a match point down in the preparation tournament (a collectors item),” she said. ”So it hasn't all been going fine, I had to work very hard this week. I think that's what makes this really special.

There were issues around her serve she said, proffering a real insight.

“When you hold your serve in wheelchair tennis, I think that's still more difficult than getting a break. Everyone who saw the match today saw that I was still struggling with my serve. I can still improve so much more than I already am doing now."

Her inspiration however remains undimmed.

“What motivates me is that the Grand Slams at the moment are making things better for us year by year. So I'm really happy to be here and then to play in front of a lot of people this year. Then as a player you want to do well, those are the things that keep me going.”

And as for records, perspective is paramount.

“They're all amazing. So looking back at all of the records, I'm proud of myself and it shows me that I'm doing better than maybe even I hoped I would ever do. But to be able to focus on tennis, I need to sort of set it aside.”

The quad singles final which followed, while routine on the scoreboard, was a cracker. Dutchman Sam Schroder made it a hat-trick of AO titles with a 6-3 6-3 victory over Israel’s Guy Sasson.

The 24-year-old Schroder is an engaging personality and intended to celebrate his title, post-doping tests, with a few beers and a hamburger he said. This followed on from a Friday night out at a Japanese restaurant to relax before his big day.

“Staying in a great space mentally, that’s the most important thing for me, to be in a good space.”

Beers sadly would not go on all night on Saturday, he said.

“I’m up early tomorrow (Sunday) to do the winner's photoshoot by the river so I can’t have a hangover. And then we fly home.”

The post-match ice bath routine which he only began earlier this week is paying off, clearly.

“I have been doing it every day, seven minutes is my record now (up from two minutes on Wednesday). I go in completely up to the neck. I just go deeper every day for a little bit longer.

“I didn’t like it the first two times, but the last two times I had no reaction and it’s giving me a great benefit as well.”

It has been a rewarding tournament all round for the wheelchair players, Schroder said.

“For us to be seen as able-bodied is really important and I want to applaud Tennis Australia for taking the step to a 16-draw (from eight players) and hopefully other Grand Slams will follow them as well.”

His opponent Sasson, who enjoyed a very vocal backing, opted for the more personal on-court tribute.

“He deserved it, he played better,” said Sasson before getting dewy eyed. “I have to thank my beautiful wife Aya. She is at home watching this being played.”

There was a pragmatism also to the public thanking.

“My four kids said they would not speak to me if I did not mention them by name (which he did, sadly the Israeli names swiftly spoken were unintelligible to this correspondent).

“Thank you for coming,” he told an adoring crowd. “This is amazing, you don’t get it at every tournament."

And finally, to a 17-year-old, Tokito Oda who was runner-up to Britain’s Alfie Hewitt in the 2023 men’s singles wheelchair final but revenge in 2024 was sweet for the Japanese, winning 6-2 6-4.

Victory was a case of fine tuning and focus only, he said.

“I didn't change my playing style or anything, I just grew up to the next level. Last year I didn't get many points with aggressive playing but it's been one year (on) and I've been practicing aggressive play, going to the net, hitting the smash, hitting a strong forehand.”

His year-long focus on approaching the net was worthwhile, Oda said.

“So that's what got me this trophy, that's the difference between last year and this.”

There was the added incentive that came from watching his countryman Rei Sakamoto win the junior singles title while Oda was warming up in the gym before his final.

“I saw his play that was five all (in the third set that Sakamoto won 7-5). I got power from him, definitely and when they called me and Alfie, he just won the match.

“So I feel like, 'Oh, I need to win this match, because some Japanese won the juniors title’,” he joked.

“Actually, we were born in the same city (Aichi) and we met at tournaments last year so it's really special to have the two titles with him, so the same age, same racquets, same city. I'm really happy to get the title with him.”