VIDEO. Paralympic Games: 18-year-old Japanese wheelchair tennis champion Tokito Oda removes his wheels to celebrate his victory

L’émotion du Japonais après son sacre aux Paralympiques. MAXPPP – Andrew Matthews

Le Japonais Tokito Oda, 18 ans seulement, a été sacré champion paralympique de tennis-fauteuil samedi 7 septembre à Roland-Garros, après sa victoire en finale face au Britannique Alfie Hewett, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.

The encounter was a clash at the top between Oda, world No. 2, already a great in his discipline with four Grand Slam titles to his name, and Hewett, 26, No. 1 and nine major titles.

But the advantage turned to the Japanese, double reigning winner of Roland-Garros who once again made the difference on the clay of the Philippe-Chatrier court. He saved a match point in the third set before turning the tide to claim his first Paralympic title.

Hewett crowned in doubles against Oda the day before

Tokito Oda had already beaten Alfie Hewett in three of the four finals he won in Grand Slams. It was at Roland-Garros in 2023, at Wimbledon the same year and recently at the Australian Open.

The Briton, winner of Wimbledon this season, won his second individual silver medal, after the one he won in Rio in 2016. The day before, he had taken the upper hand in doubles over his opponent of the day. With Gordon Reid, the Briton won in two sets 6-2, 6-1 against the Oda/Takuya Miki pair.