​Tokito Oda defended his Wimbledon title in commanding fashion, cruising to a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Britain’s Alfie Hewett in the men’s wheelchair singles final. The 20-year-old Japanese star has now matched Hewett with 10 grand slam singles titles, sitting joint-second on the all-time list behind 28-time major winner Shingo Kunieda. Together, Oda and Hewett have captured the last 14 majors, but their rivalry has become noticeably lopsided in recent years, with Oda securing 10 wins to Hewett’s four, and Oda has beaten Hewett in eight of the 10 finals they’ve contested.
Oda, who is also the reigning Olympic champion, expressed exhilaration after the win. “I’m feeling incredible. When I won here for the first time, I was 17 and I didn’t know what kind of special place this tournament holds. It’s been three years since then, and every year I come here I play with pride and pleasure. Wheelchair tennis is growing, and people are loving the sport. I really appreciate your support and everyone who makes it possible to play on Court One—thank you, everyone.”
Hewett had a chance on Oda’s opening service game, earning break points, but he couldn’t convert, and a string of three double faults helped the Japanese star seize an early break and close out the first set decisively. Oda carried that momentum into the second set, breaking twice early on and steering the match without facing real resistance, ultimately sealing his sixth consecutive grand slam title.
In doubles action on Saturday, Hewett and fellow Briton Gordon Reid defeated Oda and his partner Gustavo Fernandez to claim a seventh team title at Wimbledon, but the singles final on Sunday reminded fans that Oda remains the dominant force in wheelchair tennis. With this victory, Oda becomes a 10-time grand slam champion at just 20 years old, underscoring his ascent to the sport’s elite ranks.
Hewett, 28, reflected on the defeat with sportsmanship and clear-eyed ambition. “Right now, I’m extremely disappointed. I was riding high after yesterday’s match with Gordon, and this result isn’t going to overshadow that performance. It wasn’t the showing I wanted today—Tokito read the script better than I did. Congratulations to him and his team; that’s three grand slams this year, which means I know what his goal will be heading into the US Open. Hopefully someone can stop him,” he added, acknowledging Oda’s current dominance and the need for a fresh challenge to disrupt his momentum.
This marks Hewett’s second straight Wimbledon final defeat, and his only Wimbledon title to date remains the 2024 crown. As Oda continues to climb the all-time leaders list, his dual achievements—winning Wimbledon and defending the title in the same year—continue to elevate the profile of wheelchair tennis on the sport’s grandest stage, inspiring a new generation of players and fans around the world.