ITF

ALFIE HEWETT INTERVIEW "You learn a lot, and I mean I know I tried to take as much from it as possible. Those camps were certainly a big part of the start of my tennis journey." Hewett has as much passion for encouraging more young people to get on court and pick up a racket as he does for achieving his career goals as a professional tennis player, and it's the impact of those junior camps on him that's helped inspire him to do more. Including having the ambition of one day setting up his own academy to help more young disabled people get into sport – so Rafa Nadal watch out! He said, "I don't want to speak too soon, but it's certainly a big ambition of mine to get more people having opportunities to play wheelchair tennis. And maybe after that it can become broader than just wheelchair tennis so let's see what happens." Bringing it back to the present though, and there have been a fair few memorable moments for Hewett in the 2023 season. Of course the epic battles with Oda feature, but also his first Australian Open singles title and his unbeaten run this season in doubles with Reid are a big highlight. Not to mention leading Great Britain to victory in the World Team Cup. "I definitely say Gordy is still the experienced one in the group though," he said, laughing. "Leading the team together, flying the flag, we love it because it's the only time of the year we get to play as a team rather than against each other. "We've got some great young players coming through who were part of the men's team this year and so we got to do a bit of mentoring too as it's only their first or second time being involved in the senior men's team – and I definitely didn't think I'd be that figure just yet. "But it was great fun and we came together really well – a nice mix of the young ones coming through and mine and Gio's experience at these events too." And looking forward to the next 12 months and beyond, as we head into the qualification period for the Paris 2024 Paralympics? As always with Hewett, his goals are more process than results-based. So, while the search goes on for that first Wimbledon singles title to complete his Grand Slam set, and for that first gold medal at a Paralympic Games, there are other important things to focus on for Hewett too. "I just take things one step at a time," he said. 24 Summer 2023 ITF World

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