London: Japanese teenager Tokito Oda made history by winning the Wimbledon wheelchair title with a commanding 6-4, 6-2 victory against Alfie Hewett on Sunday.
Aged 17 years and 69 days, Oda is the youngest man to win a Wimbledon singles title in any discipline.
He is also the youngest player to win a Wimbledon singles title since 16-year-old Martina Hingis lifted the women’s trophy in 1997.
“This is so amazing. I didn’t expect this amazing support on this court. I am feeling like I’m living in a dream. I’m so happy,” Oda said.
“I want to thank Alfie and his support team. It was not easy playing in this situation against a country’s home player.
'One of strongest players'
“He is one of the strongest players and I have played him many times. It’s really tough playing with him.”
Oda’s Wimbledon victory brought him a second Grand Slam title after he won last month’s French Open.
That success made him the youngest man to win a Grand Slam tournament in any discipline and also the youngest world number one in the history of wheelchair tennis.
Oda had to settle for toasting his celebration with a glass of water instead of the champagne.
“I am still 17, so so maybe I will have sparkling water with my team,” he said.
Britain’s Hewett won the Wimbledon wheelchair doubles title with Gordon Reid on Saturday.
But the 25-year-old lost the singles final for a second successive year as 11 double faults among his 19 unforced errors gifted the title to Oda.
“First of all congrats to Tokito and your team. What a performance out there today and I hope you enjoy yourselves later on,” Hewett said.
“I feel like wheelchair tennis is being put on the map at Wimbledon.”
