Gustavo Fernandez almost won. He almost had it. The player, ranked number 3 in the ITF singles ranking, had the semifinal in the bag, once, and then twice. In the end, though, number 2 ranked Alfie Hewett ended up beating him and advancing to the Wimbledon final, thanks to great tennis where it mattered most and a crowd that was one hundred percent on his side.
The crowd issue was to be expected, with Hewett, who is British, the overwhelming favorite of a British crowd that has had to get used to tennis players from all over the world winning on the grass of Wimbledon. That surely helped him get back in the game, first at 5-1 down in the second set, and then after being a break down in the third and decisive set.
Fans were certainly paying attention to the game, despite the fact that Novak Djokovic was playing his semi-final at the same time.
There was also general praise for Fernandez’s game, despite the loss.
Hewett will now meet the favorite, Shingo Kunieda, the number 1 in the ITF ranking, and the winner of the Australian Open and Roland Garros crowns.
As for Fernandez, he now sets his sights on the US Open, the only one of the four big Grand Slam championships he has yet to win. He lost his only final there against Shingo Kuneida in 2014. He previously won the crown at Wimbledon in 2019. He has also won the Australian Open in 2017 and 2019 and Roland Garros in 2016 and 2019.
Wheelchair tennis is played at every one of the major Grand Slams, with the rules being exactly the same except that in wheelchair tennis players are allowed two bounces of the ball.
