Wimbledon 2025: Alfie Hewett finishes runner-up to world No.1 Tokito Oda
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Britain’s Alfie Hewett finished as the runner-up in the Wimbledon men’s wheelchair singles after a close three-set battle against world No.1 Tokito Oda of Japan.
Despite taking the opening set against the 19-year-old, Hewett eventually lost out 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 in two hours and 16 minutes.
Oda broke the British star eight times to clinch his sixth career Grand Slam singles title and second Wimbledon singles trophy in front of a packed-out crowd on Wimbledon’s No.1 Court.
“Congratulations to Tokito, it was an incredible battle out there and very well deserved,” Hewett reflected after the match.
“Last year was such a special moment for me, my family, my team, everyone who has been on this journey with me. To be honest I don’t think trophies can beat this sort of atmosphere and this sort of support. When you lose to have this sort of love and support behind you, it’s even better.
“This sort of atmosphere doesn’t happen to us on a regular basis. It’s really incredible what has happened at Wimbledon over the last few years and the amount of support for wheelchair tennis has got.
“To live tennis matches like this is what we both dream of. We said it at the net – to have an audience like this, win or lose, I think that’s the real win today.”
Hewett and Oda have faced each other in the final of all three Grand Slams this season – the Briton taking home the Australian Open title – and the two have split all the major titles between them since the US Open in 2022.
Now the headline rivalry in the sport, after his victory at SW19, Oda leads their Grand Slam head-to-head 5-2.
Hewett leaves The Championships as the runner-up in both singles and doubles, after he and Gordon Reid lost 7-6(1), 7-5 to second seeds Martin de la Puente and Ruben Spaargaren.
To live tennis matches like this is what we both dream of. We said it at the net – to have an audience like this, win or lose, I think that’s the real win today.
Competing in his 21st Grand Slam singles final, the British No.1 came out onto No.1 Court with a beaming smile across his face and got off to the perfect start with four strong returns to break the Japanese star to love in the opening game.
However, it started a long run of breaks that would become consistent throughout the match – both players tussling to take full advantage on their serve.
Backed by the strong British contingency in the crowd, Hewett looked more of the aggressor through the first set and appeared more comfortable on the big stage. Leading 4-3 he found a delicate drop shot to consolidate a break for the first time before taking advantage on Oda’s serve again to wrap up a clinical opening set.
In the second set, Oda managed to raise his game, and the Japanese star picked apart Hewett’s serve. The Briton won just one of 13 points behind his second serve as Oda broke four times in a tight set. Despite Hewett’s fight to stay within reach of the top seed, one hold at 6-5 was all it took to level at one set apiece.
The problems only continued for Hewett – a fifth double fault of the match gave Oda the platform to once again clinch an early break lead in the final set, before the 19-year-old raced out to a 5-1 lead.
Hewett dug out a gutsy hold to get to 5-2 and had break point opportunities in the following game, but in the end, a trio of strong first serves was enough to see Oda go on and lift the title.
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