Seventeen-year-old Tokito Oda of Japan won the French Open men’s wheelchair tennis singles title Saturday, making him the category’s youngest Grand Slam champion in history.
Oda defeated top-seeded Alfie Hewett of Britain 6-1, 6-4, avenging his loss in their Australian Open final matchup this past January.
The left-hander, who has emerged as Japan’s next wheelchair tennis star following Shingo Kunieda’s retirement, converted five of 10 break points he earned.
Japan’s Tokito Oda plays against Britain’s Alfie Hewett in the men’s wheelchair singles final at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris on June 10, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
“I’d like to thank everyone — my team, family and fans,” Oda said. “I want those who saw me play for the first time to support me from now on.”
Born in Aichi Prefecture in central Japan, Oda began using a wheelchair after he was diagnosed with bone cancer in his left hip at age 9. He took up the sport when he was 10 and turned pro in April 2022.
Earlier in the day, Diede De Groot of the Netherlands defeated Japan’s Yui Kamiji 6-2, 6-0 in the women’s wheelchair singles final.
Japan’s Tokito Oda reacts after winning a point against Britain’s Alfie Hewett in the men’s wheelchair singles final at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris on June 10, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
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