Hewett and Reid win sixth straight Melbourne title

Andy Lapthorne won the quad doubles final while Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid won the sixth successive Australian Open wheelchair doubles title.

At Melbourne Park, Hewett and Reid, the top seeds, defeated Frenchman Stephane Houdet and Spanishman Daniel Caverzaschi 6-2, 6-4.

It is their 22nd Grand Slam title as a partnership.

Lapthorne and Dutchman Sam Schroder defeated Israeli Guy Sasson and Dutch Niels Vink, the top seeds, 6-1, 6-4, in the quad wheelchair doubles.

Lapthorne, 34, has now won eight doubles titles in Melbourne.

Lapthorne, a devoted West Ham fan, stated that he had received messages from players before his final and that he hoped to return to the UK on Sunday to watch them face Aston Villa.

“My flight, I think, is at 11pm tomorrow. If I’m not delayed, then I’ll get straight in a car and drive up to Villa Park”, he said.

“If not, I’ll probably have a week off and go to the training ground to show off the trophy, and meet some of the boys.”

” I had some messages from]West Ham right-back] Vladimir Coufal last night, which was really nice.

“He just WhatsApped me to let me know that he’s watching and good luck.” They’ve been amazing to me.

Hewett, 27, will play in the wheelchair singles final against Japan’s world number one Tokito Oda on Saturday.

Of their doubles victory, 33-year-old Reid said:” I think the key thing is just never resting on where we are and never being happy with our level, our performance, and always trying to improve.