US OPEN

September 11, 2022

Alfie Hewett

Press Conference

A. HEWETT/S. Kunieda

7-6, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. How does it feel to be a three-time US Open singles champion?

ALFIE HEWETT: Yeah, it feels amazing, obviously. Really had to work hard for it. It's been a difficult year at the Grand Slams, being so close to a couple of titles, being beaten by Shingo, as well. So to get a little bit of revenge today on the court, obviously I know it was a massive match for him as well to get the calendar Grand Slam, so I was very, very happy with my level today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. Congratulations for the title, especially the match for the single. Did you prepare anything special from the usual?

ALFIE HEWETT: I think naturally we know each other's game very well. We play each other so much in the year, anyway. So there was no real in-depth analysis around Shingo. I have been working and focusing on my game recently, and I think that today was the difference between this slam and the rest of the ones I have lost against him previously.

I think that the changes I have been making in my own game finally came out today. I mean, of course it was, like, my confidence in that second set was another level. So when that's flowing, it's so easy to play your best tennis.

No, in that first set, it was a real gritty performance. The level was so high from both of us in that first set. It felt like when he had the momentum, I was able to respond. When I had the momentum, he was able to respond.

You know, there is a few points, always is a few points, but obviously very happy to get over the line.

Q. As you say, you have had loads of battles with him before. He's got you in a few finals. How satisfying is it to win this one?

ALFIE HEWETT: Yeah, very satisfying, especially the Wimbledon one. I mean, Australia as well, because Oz was one that I hadn't won before either.

I remember playing some of my best tennis in the lead-up to that final, and then when he said it himself in the postmatch speech, that he played the best tennis of his career, which, for someone who's been around for 20-plus years, that says something.

Of course that was a big disappointment, but I took it on the chin. Then Roland Garros, there was a lot of changes behind the scenes, new coaching setup. I had been working on quite a lot of things, and it just didn't come out in my match in Paris.

To have that epic in Wimbledon, and then to be just so close and not get over the line then, it certainly motivated me. I struggled a little bit with illness afterwards, but every day and every minute of every day I wanted to get back on that practice court to, well, for this, really.

You could see that in the first set, especially, because I really wanted it. Helped calm my emotions down a little bit in the second set, but yeah, it was great.

Q. You have stopped Shingo from winning the calendar slam obviously with this win today. Do you think that is a realistic target for you in the years to come? Do you use that as something to motivate yourself?

ALFIE HEWETT: I think it's always an ambition. It's one that it's very difficult to just say you're going to go out and do it. I mean, to consistently perform at Grand Slams and win them like he's done this year, it doesn't really come around often.

I think he'll be devastated. He will be gutted that he hasn't got over the line today and got the win, because, I mean, look at his performances this year, from really the Paralympics last year, he's been pretty unstoppable at the majors.

To go out there today and produce tennis like that, it gives me a lot of encouragement that maybe some year and some day that, you know, I can do it. Realistically it's one tournament at a time, and, you know, if I have won three majors in one year, then of course there is going to be a lot of motivation and I've got to back myself.

To do it here, as well, it's probably one of my favorite tournaments to come. If you look at my past record, if I get here with three slams already I'd really back myself. It would be nice to start off the year with an Australian for once rather than losing.

Q. Coming into the match, knowing that Shingo was going for the Grand Slam, did you have any specific motivation that you kind of wanted to stop him from doing that?

ALFIE HEWETT: A lot of people have been saying that. It's sport, isn't it? There is always going to be something on the line. Just a Grand Slam itself is a bit occasion.

A lot of people have been mentioning this, but for me, my real internal motivation was for myself. I think it shows a lot of character to bounce back straightaway after what happened at Wimbledon. Speaking openly, I was really low for a couple of weeks. Suffered with illness and struggled to be able just to get back on court from a physical point of view.

To then come out and be as committed as I was and the sort of mentality that I have shown, the resilience that I have shown, that was, for me, that was the most important part about today was not crumbling and really going to get it, and there have been a couple of personal things in my family and stuff. I wanted to go there today, and that was really my motivation was to do that for them and do it for the people who have been working hard with me the last four, five weeks, because they know this sort of bounce-back and how difficult it was to get back on the court.

Of course I'm not a nasty person. I didn't really want to take it necessarily away from him. I feel bad for him because he's such an incredible ambassador for our sport. Like I have already said, it's not come around often that you get three majors in one year. He'll know that that was his chance, but unfortunately he came up against me today who was, it's probably the hungriest I have ever been for a Grand Slam.

Q. You mentioned Australia already and obviously the Wimbledon final. Are those kind of your big goals for next year, trying to win those two?

ALFIE HEWETT: Yeah. Outcome orientated, yes, it's obvious. I want to add those ones to the tally. Of course it's a bit more mental pressure knowing I haven't done it before. I can take a lot of confidence that I have got to within touching distance with both of those majors now.

Best part about my team at the moment is that we are really looking ahead in terms of my game, and it's the first time I have had someone, got a new coach, Craig Allen, he's come in. It's been different, been a challenge to come in and have someone technically take your game to another place. Today it showed that.

You know, in the meantime, I will be doing a lot of transformation as all players are doing at the moment. When it comes to Oz, obviously I have my sights firmly set on that.

Q. Shingo mentioned about next stage, next year, so what do you say? You are going to face him next year too?

ALFIE HEWETT: Yeah, I mean, if we keep playing the tennis that we do, then maybe we'll have a few more Grand Slam finals. It wouldn't surprise me if some of the young kids on the block, I mean, Tokito Oda, some of the other players who are I think really coming through, I think they are going to have a breakthrough year.

We'll see. I mean, right now, we are obviously consistently playing at a really high level, but there is going to be some fresh faces on the tour. With the Grand Slams expanding to 16, give it a year, give it two years, I think there is going to be a lot more upsets than maybe what you see right now.