On Sunday, the Paralympic wheelchair tennis competition began at Roland-Garros Stadium, with top players Alfie Hewett (Great Britain), Tokito Oda (Japan), Martin De La Puente (Spain), and Gustavo Fernandez (Argentina) all advancing to the round of 16. Each player faced unique challenges but managed to secure victories.
Hewett’s Impressive Debut
World No. 1 Alfie Hewett had a successful start to his first Paralympic Games, defeating Sergei Lysov of Israel with ease, dropping only one game. After the match, Hewett expressed his excitement to finally compete after spending time practicing while others played.
Oda, Japan’s Future Star
Eighteen-year-old Tokito Oda, ranked second in the world, faced a strong challenge from Britain’s Ben Bartram. Oda won in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6(4), but was pushed to a tiebreak in the second set. Already a two-time French Open champion, Oda praised his opponent’s strong performance.
De La Puente’s Dominant Performance
Spain’s Martin De La Puente, the world’s No. 3 player, delivered a commanding performance, defeating Argentina’s Ezequiel Casco 6-2, 6-0. Playing on a court that offered an intimate setting with the fans, De La Puente felt energized by the support of his family in the stands. He will face Maikel Scheffers of the Netherlands in his next match as he looks to surpass his previous Paralympic quarterfinal finishes.
Fernandez Handles the Pressure
In his fourth Paralympic Games, Gustavo Fernandez of Argentina had to contend with both Frenchman Frédéric Cattaneo and a supportive French crowd. Despite some challenges in the second set, Fernandez secured a 6-1, 6-4 victory.
The former world No. 1 was thrilled to be back at Roland-Garros and praised the atmosphere, calling it one of the best places in the world to play tennis.