TNT Sports
Wimbledon 2023: Joy for Brits at Wimbledon as Neal Skupski wins doubles, Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett clinch title
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Published 15/07/2023 at 17:13 GMT+1
The British crowd was given plenty of reason to be cheerful at Wimbledon on Saturday as Neal Skupski claimed the first major of his career alongside partner Wes Koolhof in the men's doubles on Centre Court. Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett were also triumphant in the wheelchair doubles final, but they had contrasting fortunes in the singles semi-finals as Hewett progressed but Reid suffered an exit.
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There was British success for the home crowd to celebrate at Wimbledon as Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid won the wheelchair doubles title and Neal Skupski triumphed in the men’s doubles.
Skupski and his Dutch partner Wesley Koolhof were the top seeds at the All England Club but were in uncharted territory ahead of the final against Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos, having never won a Grand Slam title together before.
But they enjoyed a straight-sets victory on Centre Court, winning 6-4 6-4 in 77 minutes in front of a jubilant crowd.
Skupski fell to the ground in joy when the Championship point was won, before warmly embracing Koolhof after a commanding performance against the 15th seeds.
He becomes the first British man to win the men’s doubles title since Jonathan Marray in 2012.
British pair Hewett and Reid were also top seeds for their final against Japanese duo Takuya Miki and Tokito Oda.
They produced a stirring comeback to win 3-6 6-0 6-3 on Court One and clinch their 18th Grand Slam doubles title together and fifth at Wimbledon.
Their success came after contrasting fortunes in the wheelchair singles semi-finals earlier in the day.
Hewett earned a straight-sets win over Martin de la Puente to reach the final, but hopes of an all-British showpiece were dashed when Reid lost.
Seven-time Grand Slam winner Hewett, seeded second at SW19, triumphed 6-3 6-2 against the Spaniard on No. 1 Court.
Wimbledon is the only major title that has so far eluded Hewett during a decorated career.
He will face Oda for the title on Sunday after the 17-year-old top seed defeated Reid 6-3 6-4.
Hewett, runner-up at Wimbledon last year, found himself 3-1 down in the opening set but bounced back superbly to swing the momentum back in his favour.
The 25-year-old won 11 of the next 13 games to seal his two-set victory in 89 minutes, hitting four aces and 34 winners to overpower De la Puente.
Reid, the 2016 Wimbledon champion, couldn’t stop Oda from setting up his third consecutive major final meeting with Hewett.
The Japanese teenager beat the Brit to the Roland-Garros title but lost out at the Australian Open.
"[Oda's] a talented kid, he's only 17 still so he's got a lot to learn," said Hewett.
"He's already world No. 1 so it's going to be a tough match. Last time I played him was in the Roland Garros final so I'll be hoping for a bit of revenge."
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Stream daily highlights from Wimbledon at 10pm UK time, as well as the two singles finals live on July 15 and 16, on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com
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