Tokito Oda Wins Australian Open, de Groot and Schroder Also Triumph in Wheelchair Tennis

Japanese teenager Tokito Oda won his first Australian Open title on January 27 by beating Alfie Hewett from Great Britain in straight sets in the men’s wheelchair tennis singles final. Oda, who is just 17 years old, won 6-2, 6-4 against the defending champion. This is Oda’s third Grand Slam singles title after winning Wimbledon and Roland Garros last year, making him a strong contender for the wheelchair tennis Paralympics.

Oda said his win was due to practice and focus. “I didn’t change my playing style. I just got better. Last year, I didn’t win many points by playing aggressively, but I have been practicing hitting strong forehands and going to the net,” Oda explained.

Watching his countryman Rei Sakamoto win the junior singles title before his own final gave Oda extra motivation. “I saw Sakamoto win and thought, ‘I need to win this match too!'”

21st Grand Slam Title for de Groot

In the women’s singles final, Dutch player Diede de Groot won her 21st Grand Slam singles title by beating Japan’s Yui Kamiji 7-5, 6-4. De Groot has not lost a singles match since 2021, and she remains one of the top players to watch in wheelchair tennis for the upcoming Paralympics. However, she said it was not an easy win.

“The last few weeks have been hard for me with a small injury and a cold,” de Groot said. “I had to work very hard this week, and that’s why this win is so special.”

De Groot added that she still has room to improve, especially her serve. “Serving in wheelchair tennis is still very difficult, and today I was struggling with it,” she said. “But I can still get better.”

She feels motivated by how Grand Slam tournaments are improving conditions for wheelchair tennis players. “Seeing more people come to watch and the support growing keeps me motivated,” she said.

Schroder Wins Third Straight Title

Dutch player Sam Schroder won the Australian Open quad singles tournament for the third year in a row, continuing his winning streak in wheelchair tennis. His consistent performance makes him another key player to watch in the wheelchair tennis Paralympics.