Oda holds nerve to claim men's singles gold in stunning fashion
Japanese sensation Tokito Oda produced an epic last-ditch comeback to top the Paris 2024 Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Event’s men’s singles podium and deny Great Britain’s Alfie Hewett a much-coveted career Golden Slam.
Oda was coolness personified – on the surface at least – as he launched a stunning salvage operation as Hewett served for the match before turning the tide in his favour to prevail 6-2 4-6 7-5 in front of a packed Court Philippe Chatrier.
It was a fittingly gripping finale to what has been a breathtaking Games, which have been jampacked with intriguing narratives and national firsts, although the sport of wheelchair tennis has been the true winner.
With a buoyant Roland Garros crowd watching on – 15,225 is a record for a Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis match – the two heavyweights of the men’s division drew swords and neither backed down.
But the spoils and plaudits belong to Oda, who at the age of 18 years and 123 days is the youngest player to win Paralympic men’s singles gold – overtaking previous record-holder Ricky Molier, who was 20 years and 70 days in 1996 in Atlanta.
Oda’s triumph – on the day that the legendary Shingo Kunieda performed Les Trois Coups – follows that of Yui Kamiji in the women’s singles on Friday as Japan flexed their wheelchair tennis muscles.
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“I was just one point away from a loss,” said Oda, who has now won back-to-back Grand Slam singles titles and a Paralympic gold medal match on the clay of Roland Garros.
“I was so nervous, I just told myself to keep hitting hard and that’s what I did. After I saved his match point I told myself, ‘I should win, I can win’. After that, I started playing really well and just played my style.
“Roland Garros is such a special place to me. It’s where I play my best tennis and I can’t wait to come back here for next year’s Roland Garros, it will bring back such amazing memories.
“With Yui winning the women’s singles, this is Japan’s best result in Paralympic history. Wheelchair tennis is definitely at a high level, whether in men’s or women’s event. The sport is getting bigger in Japan, and we are a strong country.”
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Kunieda, the grand master himself, was on hand to welcome Japan’s success. The 50-time Grand Slam champion, who also has four Paralympic gold medals to his name, has been working with Kamiji, but was also on hand to cheer on his heir apparent.
“It has been amazing,” he said. “I have worked with Yui for one year. We had a lot of discussions and we found a tactic against Diede [de Groot]. It was not an easy win, but we made it. I was very proud of Yui.
“Today, Tokito was so good. He was very aggressive from the beginning until the end and deserves the gold medal. He has the ability to enjoy any situation, even when he is facing a high-pressure moment. That was key to him winning. I think that was the best match in Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis history.”
For every winner, there has to be a loser and on this occasion that is Hewett, whose wait to seal the career Golden Slam in men’s wheelchair tennis singles goes on.
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Defeat was tough on the 26-year-old, who claimed the career Golden Slam in doubles alongside Gordon Reid on Friday. Despite the circumstances, however, he was his usual measured and considered self by the time he faced the media.
“Of course, you don't just move on from something like this overnight, but it's all about perspective,” said Hewett, who suffered pre-match hip pain which affected him during the opening set.
“It's all about looking at the good things that today brought, sometimes it's bigger than the individual and the person. Hopefully today can just really kick things on with our sport and bring more attention.
“Also, if you’re going to lose, lose with your head held high and I’m glad that I put on a show, and we produced something epic. That’s what I said to Tokito at the end. I said, ‘what we’ve done today is nothing short of remarkable and it will go down in history'.
“Whenever I retire, one day I will look at the journey I've been on: losing out in medal matches to having epic ones, wins and losses and the whole journey. I want to look back and feel I did myself and my country proud.
“I know it is already inspiring a new generation of youngsters coming through and that means a lot to me. It’s not all about me and what accolades I can get. It’s about leaving the sport in a better place than I started. I am proud to be part of that movement.”