Semi-final defeats for Norfolk ace at French Open
Alfie Hewett in action at the French Open during his singles quarter-final win Picture: Alex Pantling/Getty Images - Credit: Getty Images
Hopes of a second singles title at the French Open came to an end on the clay courts of Roland Garros in Paris for Norfolk's wheelchair tennis star Alfie Hewett.
The 21-year-old, from Cantley, near Acle, beat home favourite and two-time champion Stephane Houdet 6-2 7-6 (7-4) in the quarter-finals on Thursday but was beaten in the semi-finals.
Hewett faced Gustavo Fernandez, the second seed, on Friday and was beaten 6-1 6-2 to end his hopes of repeating his 2017 singles success in France.
There's to be no doubles final either, after teaming up with regular partner Gordon Reid, a British partnership which has brought three Wimbledon and two US open titles, as well as a Paralympic silver medal, with both playing a pivotal role in GB's World Team Cup victory in Israel last month as well.
The pairing were beaten 6-2 7-5 by Fernandez and Shingo Kunieda, a duo they had previously beaten in all five of their previous Grand Slam semi-final clashes.
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Hewett won the Korea Open singles title earlier in the year, having enjoyed singles and doubles victory at the US Open in September, and will now set his sights on Wimbledon.
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