THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 15, 2023

Alfie Hewett

Gordon Reid

Press Conference

HEWETT-REID/Miki-Oda

3-6, 6-0, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference for Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid, men's wheelchair tennis doubles champions.

Guys, Wimbledon champions. How is it feeling?

GORDON REID: Yeah, it feels great. I think we're still trying to get our heart rate down from the noise out on Court 1 there. It was incredible. There was a lot of emotion, a lot of adrenaline. Yeah, we just absolutely loved it. Obviously we were super happy to get this trophy back, as well.

ALFIE HEWETT: Yeah, obviously after losing in the final last year, as well, to get the trophy back, make it British, it's what we wanted. Delighted, obviously. Like G said, the atmosphere was something we never experienced before. One to remember.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. The fact you're on No. 1 Court, does that show how far the sport has come, wider audience?

GORDON REID: Yeah. I think not only that, but the amount of people that were there. I think we kind of said it earlier in the week, we played on show courts elsewhere. Not here so much. But elsewhere, other slams, you're on the court, but there's nobody there. You don't really get the full experience.

Pretty sure today was the full experience. I don't think you can get much better than that (smiling).

I think it shows how far the sport's come. Even yesterday, the women's semifinals, there was no British interest in the wheelchair singles, there was a great crowd there for that, as well. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come.

Q. Ever had a conversation of playing on Centre Court or is that off bounds?

GORDON REID: No, I think it's something the tournament are looking into. When that's possible, if it's possible, we'll see. Obviously we'd love to do it. Yeah, hopefully one day it happens.

Q. One of your tougher Grand Slam finals in recent battles. Seemed in the second set you reset yourselves. It was about doing the basics well. How did you feel? I'm talking about the topspin you put on those forehands going straight down the center of your court.

ALFIE HEWETT: Yeah, tennis is all about momentum. I felt that we didn't get off to the best of starts. Wasn't playing anywhere near the tennis we're capable of. So it was important just to find a bit of a, yeah, base or a foundation to then build off. That's what we decided to do.

The latter stage of the first set, the start of the second set, with that sort of transition from being a bit more erratic to more steady, you then start creating chances for yourself. Being on the front foot more, you get the chair flying around the court. Before you know it, everything is in the zone, you're feeling great out there, the momentum starts to change.

Obviously winning the first couple games of the second set was really important. Sort of put a stamp on the match. Try to take it by the scruff of the neck.

Yeah, third set was quite close up until the end.

Q. Gordon, during the trophy presentation, Alfie is speechless, did you think we'd ever see that, or see it again?

GORDON REID: No, he managed a few words. I don't think he'll ever be completely speechless.

Q. It was a bit like a Davis Cup Final that second and third set. The place is filling up all the time. How conscious were you there were more and more people coming in? How did that help you?

GORDON REID: Yeah, I think we were fully conscious because we could feel the noise getting louder and louder. Obviously it came to a crescendo at the end of the match.

Yeah, I think it helped get us over the line because it gave us that extra boost of energy. We knew probably 95% of the crowd were hoping for us to win and supporting us.

Yeah, I mean, I think Alfie said it earlier, it's something we've never experienced before. We've played in some stadiums with big crowds, but I don't think ever one that's been so into the match, so supportive of us.

It's something that I think we'll always remember.

Q. You said on court thanks to that noisy pocket of supporters. Earlier in your singles semifinal on Court 3, there was that group of people, all chanting and shouting for you. Do you know them?

GORDON REID: Yeah, I do know them. They're not random.

ALFIE HEWETT: He pays them (laughter).

GORDON REID: They're my friends and family. They're always great every year, they're a great support. Yeah, really thankful to be able to get them all in, get them behind us again today. I think they're all enjoying themselves with a few Pimm's now.

Q. In 2008, you said there was nobody apart from your mum and sister.

GORDON REID: Yeah, that's literally what it was. Nobody knew about wheelchair tennis. They'd maybe stop and watch a couple of points and move on. The sport wasn't promoted. It wasn't exciting. We weren't on any social media.

That match on the court is obviously a highlight of how it's changed. It's all the little things that have added up to get to this stage.

I forgot to mention Jamie Baker by name earlier on the court. None of this would have happened without him. He's been really, really supportive of us, along with a lot of other people from Wimbledon and the club. He's making the decisions to get us out there. Hopefully we're repaying him.

Q. The atmosphere on Court 1, that interest in wheelchair tennis, the interest in your matches, how do you transfer that interest, that energy that was on court, into the grassroots level of the game, getting more people involved?

ALFIE HEWETT: Well, I think we're doing the first step, which is putting it out there, getting it visible, getting it on the BBC on the iPlayer, wherever possible, for people to see, to watch. I know there will be a lot of people out there that would never have heard of wheelchair tennis. They may have stuck on BBC Two today and seen us play and go, Hang on a minute. It does exist. The sport does actually exist. What can I do now? Where can you go?

Then it's about having enough facilities and having as many communities be able to host wheelchair sessions and invite players to come along and play, try to support the grassroots players as much as possible. Things like getting a chair, a racquet. They're not cheap bits of equipment. Just providing more of them.

Up-skilling coaches so that it's okay to coach wheelchair tennis if you've never coached it before. That's a big part of it. I've had some experiences where players will go to centers, and the coach doesn't know wheelchair tennis, won't take them on. Just trying to change that culture, that way of thinking as well.

We are going in the right direction. It's events, matches, and days like this that can really be a groundbreaking breakthrough.

Q. Gordon, where is the bucket hat? Paul did mention that the man bun may go as well.

GORDON REID: I haven't decided yet. I think he's hoping it goes. We'll see.

I'm still waiting for a bucket hat to wear. When I find one, I'll get it on.

Q. You go again tomorrow. Does today give you an edge in the singles?

ALFIE HEWETT: I mean, from my side, it does. I've gone out there again, played some good tennis. Feel like I'm playing confident. Yeah, from my side I think it does give me an edge.

It's a tricky environment. It's a lot of pressure to put on your shoulders, go out there and play in front of all those people, which we're still getting used to. We embrace it and we love it.

But tomorrow will be a new day. Anything can happen. Hopefully there will be another good crowd, get behind us. I guess I'm trying to get a bit familiar with it now because it's so rare that it happens like this.

Yeah, I just really try to go full guns in, full guns blazing, just give it my all.