Wheelchair Tennis: Alfie Hewett told Sky Sports that wheelchair tennis is “the most amazing thing that has ever happened” to him and has altered his life, but that he still has significant obstacles if he is to add a Wimbledon championship to his record of Grand Slams.
The 25-year-old has had a spectacular career, winning seven Grand Slam titles in the United States, France, and Australia, with Wimbledon being the only trophy he has yet to win.
Looking back on his life and career, Hewett, who was born with a congenital heart defect that necessitated surgery at the age of six months and also suffered from Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, a disorder that limits blood flow from the pelvis to the hip joint, explained what drove him to a wheelchair tennis career.
“It was about 17 years ago now that I picked up a racket and played wheelchair tennis for the first time, so it’s a long time ago for me,” Hewett said to Sky Sports.
“It’s most likely the most incredible thing that has ever happened to me. It clearly altered my life and professional direction.
“I’m extremely grateful to my family, who pushed me because it was a difficult time.
“I was a seven-year-old being told that I was now “wheelchair-bound,” and before that, I was a young lad who loved playing football, running around, and simply wanting to win everything.
“Being told that I wouldn’t be doing that any longer was devastating, and I couldn’t process it. So that’s why my parents and relatives were like: ‘We need to get sport back in his life. He’s obviously missing out.’
“Wheelchair tennis was one of the sports I took up at the time.” I also tried basketball, archery, and swimming – pretty much every sport!
“I could play tennis against my brother and sister and make friends. I began by attending a weekly Wednesday group with other persons with impairments. Family and siblings may wish to participate.
“To be honest, we basically played ridiculous games and attempted to smash the ball. People assume this happened overnight, that I just grabbed up a racket and started playing. I can assure you that when I initially took up a racket, the ball did not make touch with it for an extended period of time, so perhaps that can offer everyone some optimism that anything is possible!
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