HELENSBURGH’S Gordon Reid hopes his Wimbledon success will inspire the next generation of wheelchair tennis players to pick up a racket.
The Scot finished runner-up in Sunday’s men’s singles final, having won his fourth All England Club doubles title with partner Alfie Hewett 24 hours previously.
Reid’s hopes of adding to the fourth men’s doubles title he won on Saturday were dashed after Belgium’s Joachim Gerard took the singles title 6-2, 7-6 (2).
The inaugural Wimbledon men’s wheelchair singles champion in 2016 fought back from 4-1 down to lead the second set 6-5, but ultimately his efforts were thwarted.
He said: “I thought, in general, my level was high.
“I think he played the big points really well. There were a few break opportunities at the start of the first set – maybe I could have returned a little bit better on a couple of those, but I felt like he played most of the big points well today.
READ MORE: Gordon Reid becomes four-time Wimbledon wheelchair doubles champion
“I changed the tactics slightly when I was 4-1 down second set, trying to use a little more flight in the ball, trying to cause him problems that way.
“I could have maybe tried that a little bit earlier in the match.”
Cheered on by an adoring crowd on Court No.3 and with Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge sat courtside to enjoy a match of exceptional quality that was broadcast live on BBC Two, Rio Paralympic champion Reid added: “The crowd was awesome. They were getting right into it. They were creating an awesome atmosphere for both of us.
“It’s just great to see so many people enjoying our sport.
“The sport’s come a long way. It’s been a lot of fun to be a part of that. Hopefully we can keep building on that.”
Last week the LTA announced its Wheelchair Tennis Initiative – comprising of a series of taster days designed to attract, inspire and engage people with physical impairments into the sport.
Reid, who won his seventh successive Grand Slam doubles title partnering Hewett, and has now won 18 Grand Slam crowns, said: “Hopefully these kind of situations, these kind of scenarios are what inspires more people to play.
“The odd person here or there might have watched on the TV, or been here, that could be the start of their journey in the sport.
“Hopefully we can get as many people playing in the UK as possible and see where it goes from there."
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