Fever-Tree Championships To Stage New Wheelchair Tennis Tournament At The Queen's Club
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The Fever-Tree Championships is to stage a wheelchair exhibition tournament at The Queen’s Club for the first time. British stars Alfie Hewett, the current World No.1, and two-time Grand Slam champion and Paralympic gold-medalist Gordon Reid are among five of the world’s Top 10 players due to take part.
The event, organised by the Lawn Tennis Association and supported by the Tennis Foundation, will take place on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the event, which runs 18th-24th June.
“We are delighted to welcome so many of the best wheelchair tennis players in the world to the Fever-Tree Championships,” said Tournament Director Stephen Farrow.
We pride ourselves on showcasing the best men’s tennis in the world on grass and this is further proof of that commitment. The six players taking part in this event are fantastic athletes, and the tennis they produce is jaw-dropping to watch. All of them are tremendous role-models, particularly Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid in Britain, and we can’t wait to see them playing on the grass at The Queen’s Club.
Britain is one of the world’s leading nations for disability tennis in terms of the numbers playing the sport at grass roots level through to the success the nation has enjoyed at the 2016 Paralympic Games. Bringing wheelchair tennis to the Fever-Tree Championships at The Queen’s Club is an opportunity to showcase disability tennis at a major event and to help inspire even more people to pick up a racquet.
Alfie Hewett, said: “To get the opportunity to play an event in the Fever-Tree Championships is one I am thrilled to be involved with. With Wimbledon introducing a singles event for the wheelchair players a few years ago, it really gives us a chance to showcase the sport at the highest of levels on one of the biggest stages on the tour. I have always watched Queen’s on the TV so I can’t wait to experience playing there in front of a home crowd.”
Gordon Reid MBE, said: “I’m really looking forward to the opportunity of competing at The Queen’s Club for the first time this year. The Fever-Tree Championships is a tournament I have watched over the years and to have the chance to be a part of the event is exciting for myself and our sport of wheelchair tennis. I hope it is also a positive step forward towards creating a grass court swing on the wheelchair tennis tour.”
The event will feature singles and doubles action on all three days, weather permitting.
LINE-UP
Alfie Hewett – GBR – World number 1
Reigning Roland Garros champion and NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters Singles Champion. The 20 year old made history in becoming the sport’s youngest ever men’s singles world No.1 in January this year. Also the reigning US Open and Wimbledon doubles champion with Gordon Reid.
Stephane Houdet – FRA – World number 4
Reigning (and 2013) US Open men’s singles champion. Rio Paralympic men’s doubles champion with Nicolas Peifer. Two-time Roland Garros men’s singles champion. 2012 ITF World Champion (year-end world No.1). 2011 NEC Masters champion.
Gordon Reid - GBR – World number 5
Rio 2016 Paralympic men’s singles gold medallist. Became the first Brit ever to reach No.1 in the men’s singles rankings when he ended 2016 as ITF World Champion. 2016 Australian Open and Wimbledon champion. 7 x doubles Grand Slam champion. Reigning US Open and Wimbledon doubles champion with Alfie Hewett.
Nicolas Peifer – FRA - World number 6
Rio Paralympic men’s doubles gold medallist with Houdet. 2017 Australian Open men’s singles finalist. Multiple Grand Slam doubles champion.
Stefan Olsson – SWE - World number 7
Reigning Wimbledon Champion (first Grand Slam singles title). Two-time NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters Singles champion. London 2012 men’s doubles gold medallist. Former Wimbledon and US Open men’s doubles champion.
Daniel Caverzaschi – ESP - World number 13
Spanish No.1 and the winner of more than 20 international singles titles.
