Disappointing.

A story I never knew about one of the top wheelchair men, Joachim Gerard of Belgium

www.itftennis.com/en/news-and-media/articles/from-heart-attack-to-hope-gerard-eyes-paris-glory-after-tokyo-drama/

Gerard had won the AO and Wimbledon in 2021, before the Tokyo Olympics, and went in with high hopes. He lost in the last 16, surprisingly, but then after his loss , at the Olympic Village, he suffered a heart attack.

He is 35 years old now and still ranked number 6, and will be playing at Wimbledon , of course, and at the Paris Paralympics.

The other mens doubles semi, featuring Oda and Miki against French pair Cattoneo and Laget is on Chatrier before the mens semis. Good for them!

Fernandez clearly worked hard since those losses as per below from the ITF site 

Both players triumphed in epic semi-final battles that went to a deciding set and surpassed two and a half hours of play on Thursday. Fernandez defeated No. 1 seed and three-time Roland Garros singles champion Alfie Hewett 7-5 6-7(1) 6-2, the same man he suffered a chastening 6-1 6-1 defeat to in the final at the Internazionali BNL dItalia less than three weeks ago.

Rome was a very important match for me, because Alfie showed me this is where the bar is if you want to beat me, the Argentine revealed after the victory. It showed me I have to play at a high level consistently over time. I took that loss very consciously. Today I knew it was going to be a big battle, so I got ready for it. I always kept my level at that bar today.

Fernandez is into his first Grand Slam singles final since 2022 Roland Garros, and has the chance to win his first singles title at a major since 2019 Wimbledon. However, he will have to get through defending champion Tokito Oda in the final on Saturday. The Japanese teenager breezed past compatriot Takuya Miki 6-1 6-1 in his semi-final, and has won three of the last four Grand Slams, picking up his first in Paris last year.

-- Edited by JonH comes home on Friday 7th of June 2024 06:59:24 AM

Very tight, but Alfie and Gordon took their mens doubles semi on a MTB, 10-8, taking the third of three matchpoints.

Well done to them both and into a final versus Oda and Miki, the second seeded Japanese pair.

Two finals with British players in them tomorrow. And both Alfie and Gordon and Andy have a chance of getting their second slam title of the season. With no US Open this year, I guess a grand slam would effectively be the three left plus the paralympics, this year at least.

Congrats to Alfie and Gordon who won the French mens wheelchair doubles title today, 1 and 4.

Fifth straight year