Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett claim record-equalling Australian Open title

Scotland's Gordon Reid and England's Alfie Hewett kiss the championship trophy after the British pair won the men's wheelchair doubles final at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

The top seeds beat French pair Stephane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer 7-5, 7-6 (3) to also extend to five their winning streak of victories in available grand slams.

Reid, from Helensburgh, said: “Obviously it’s been an amazing ride – when we started playing with each other Alfie was just a young kid coming up, finishing school, and I was number one in world doubles at the time.

“It was a bit of a gamble to be honest, at that stage, obviously one I’m happy that I took, and it’s paying off nicely for us now.”

Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett in action in the final against French pair Stephane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Reid and Hewett equalled the domestic record set by brothers Laurence and Reginald Doherty, who won 10 grand slam doubles titles, all at Wimbledon, between 1897 and 1906.

Hewett added: “To win back to back is an awesome feeling, especially with the situation at the moment, not knowing how many opportunities we’re going to have to compete this year.”

Reid, 29, was paralysed from the waist down at the age of 12, due to the rare spinal condition transverse myelitis.

Told he may never walk again, the keen sportsman took up wheelchair tennis and has become one of the best in the world.

He was initially paralysed from the waist down, but as the nerves in his spine healed he gained some feeling back and is able to walk a little bit.

Reid just missed out on a place in the wheelchair singles final in Melbourne, losing to Joachim Gerard in the semi-final.

Hewett, meanwhile, reached his first Australian Open final after a 6-3, 6-4 victory over top seed Shingo Kunieda.

Andy Lapthorne and American partner Dylan Wagner lost their quad wheelchair doubles final to top-seeded Australians Dylan Alcott and Heath Davidson 6-2, 3-6, 10-7.

Lapthorne returned last month after announcing, having lost two French Open finals in October, that he was taking time away from the game in order to focus on his mental health.

He said: “It was difficult, I’m not going to lie, especially in that 10-point tiebreaker when all of a sudden the pressure comes and the anxiety and all those feelings I had back at Roland Garros.

“But I’m battling away, and I’m trying my best each day to work on myself and work on my mind and it’s small steps, and it was nice just to be back out there.”

Lucy Shuker and South African partner Kgothatso Montjane lost their women’s wheelchair doubles final to Dutch top seeds Diede de Groot and Aniek van Koot 6-4 6-1.

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