Gordon Reid looks to Rio after doubles final loss

Scotland’s Gordon Reid has set his sights on double Olympic gold after his bid to win back-to-back Grand Slam titles ended with a defeat yesterday in the final of the Wimbledon men’s wheelchair doubles.
Gordon Reid, left, and playing partner Michael Jeremiasz pose with their runnersup medals after they lost out in the mens wheelchair doubles final. Picture: Getty ImagesGordon Reid, left, and playing partner Michael Jeremiasz pose with their runnersup medals after they lost out in the mens wheelchair doubles final. Picture: Getty Images
Gordon Reid, left, and playing partner Michael Jeremiasz pose with their runnersup medals after they lost out in the mens wheelchair doubles final. Picture: Getty Images

Reid and French partner Michael Jeremiasz lost 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 against Gustavo Fernandez and Nicolas Peifer, who Reid – then partnered with Japan’s Shingo Kunieda – defeated in the final of the French Open just a few weeks ago.

Reid and Jeremiasz, the No 2 seeds, could not fashion the kind of comeback that saw them reach the final, when they came back from 5-2 down in the final set to clinch victory on Saturday against England’s Alfie Hewett and Joachim Gerard of Belgium.

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“When we went 5-1 to 5-2 again in the final set, I thought the great comeback could be back on again,” Reid, from Helensburgh, said. “But you can’t win them all. We have to learn from the loss and come back next year stronger.”

It was announced yesterday that Wimbledon will now start falling into line with the other Grand Slams by having a singles wheelchair event as well as a doubles one from next year. Reid will return to SW19 to feature in both events as he continues to prepare for the Paralympics in Rio in September next year.

“Ending up with two medals is the goal,” he said. “I made quarters in singles and doubles [at London] and I have a few more years of experience under my belt now. I have been in bigger situations and won a Grand Slam since then.

“I have been in a few finals as well so I am definitely a better player now and I have still got more than a year to keep improving before Rio.”

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