By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday June 10, 2023
In 2022 Japan’s Tokito Oda turned the youngest man to ever take part within the wheelchair competitors at a Grand Slam. He reached the semifinals, falling to just lately retired Shingo Kunieda.
This 12 months the southpaw phenom took it two steps additional.
Oda defeated Nice Britain’s Alfie Hewett, 6-1, 6-4, within the males’s singles wheelchair closing on Courtroom Philippe-Chatrier on Sunday for his maiden Grand Slam title. His victory implies that Oda will grow to be the youngest tennis man to ever win a Grand Slam title in any self-discipline, and the youngest man to ever maintain a No.1 rating.
That first Grand Slam title feeling 🥰
This is to many extra Tokito Oda! #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/XseB9d6tjD
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 10, 2023
“Two goals come true immediately,” Oda stated in his post-match press convention. “I’m simply feeling that that is the happiest day of the life.”
Oda’s success comes within the wake of Kunieda’s retirement. The 50-time Grand Slam champion gained 28 Grand Slam singles titles throughout his legendary profession.
“I’ve discovered a variety of issues from him,” Oda stated earlier this week in Paris. “Not solely about tennis. Learn how to be on tour, keep constant and win at these high-level tournaments – I’ve discovered so many issues from him. If I win this event I wish to additionally do it for him. He’s a legend to me and he is sort of a trainer for me.
“I am unhappy that he isn’t right here, the sensation is way completely different from final 12 months.”
