ITF

14 ITFWORLD WINTER 2017 WHEELCHAIR TENNIS Selepe wins UNIQLO Spirit Award South African wheelchair tennis player Patrick Selepe was announced as the inaugural winner of the UNIQLO Spirit Award during the 2017 UNIQLO Wheelchair Doubles Masters. Great Britain's Louise Hunt was named runner-up. The award will be given annually to a current wheelchair tennis player who embodies the principles and core values of UNIQLO and Fast Retailing Group by seeking to challenge and change the world around them by challenging themselves and striving for the highest standards imaginable, pursuing their goals with an innovative spirit and a shared desire to see wheelchair tennis grow. The UNIQLO Spirit Award nominations considered players from grassroots to elite level. A judging panel created a shortlist of nominations, with UNIQLO invited to choose a winner and runner-up. Selepe, who receives a prize of $5,000, was recognised for his commitment to all aspects of wheelchair tennis over a period of ten years, as a competitive player and as an official, becoming the first disabled person to attain the White Badge officiating qualification. He has worked tirelessly to develop the sport in South Africa, playing a major role in overseeing the activities of a wheelchair tennis development programme that serves over 500 players. Two-time Paralympian Hunt has won more than 70 titles on the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour. She works as an athlete mentor for various organisations, and spends considerable time supporting Wheelchair Tennis Development Fund projects around the world. in the summer, but in Loughborough he fell back in love with it. A 75 64 semifinal win against Kunieda set up an all-British final between Reid and Hewett, who just one week previously had teamed to victory at the UNIQLO Doubles Masters. For three games it was indeed "just like watching Brazil" as Reid bossed his young rival with some pulverising tennis. Just a few months ago Hewett would have accepted second best, but not any more. He suddenly turned the match on its head and won eight games on the trot to defeat Reid 63 62. "This week I've brought out something in me which I didn't really believe was there," Hewett said. In the women's final, de Groot found herself facing the world No. 1 Yui Kamiji, to whom she had lost six times out of eight during the year. Even Vergeer admitted that her protege, who had won the Doubles Masters title with compatriot Marjolein Buis, needed to be at her best to win and she was. Despite twice losing a 4-1 lead, de Groot stayed mentally strong to win 75 64 and thereby deny the Japanese a second Masters success. Wagner had lost to Lapthorne at the semifinal stage in Rio but had avenged that defeat in a close US Open final. This time Wagner was in charge from start to finish, winning 61 62. Afterwards the Brit said he would have to seriously consider his future. Wagner is out on his own in the quad world — "a legend" Lapthorne called him — and now an ITF World Champion to boot. NEC renews Masters sponsorship The ITF has renewed its sponsorship agreement with NEC Corporation as title sponsor of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters for another three years from 2018 through 2020. NEC will celebrate 25 years as title sponsor in 2018. The agreement also sees NEC Corporation continue as an International Partner of the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour events in key markets. "We are very grateful for the continued support of NEC Corporation, which has been a loyal and hardworking partner of the ITF's wheelchair tennis activities for more than 25 years. Its commitment and enthusiasm has helped wheelchair tennis become one of the fastest growing Paralympic sports," ITF President David Haggerty said. "We are delighted that NEC is continuing its title sponsorship of such a prestigious event and we look forward to celebrating 25 years of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters in 2018." Masters quad runner-up Andy Lapthorne

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