Hewett and Reid Triumph Again at US Open

Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid know this court. They know the noise, the lights, the weight of expectation in New York. On Saturday, they reminded everyone why their names keep echoing around Flushing Meadows.

Five years after their last US Open triumph together, the British pair dug themselves out of a deep hole to claim the men’s wheelchair doubles title once again, beating Spain’s Martin de la Puente and Ruben Spaargaren of the Netherlands 2-6 6-3 10-7 in a match tie-break.

For long spells, it looked like the story would be about the new challengers. De la Puente and Spaargaren came out swinging, ripping through the opening set 6-2 and then breaking early in the second. Hewett and Reid were a set and a break down, the momentum running hard against them.

That’s usually when champions show their teeth.

The response was sharp and immediate. The returns grew bolder, the angles nastier. Hewett started to dictate from the back of the court, Reid locked in at the net, and the British duo wrestled control of the rallies. The pressure finally told as they turned the second set around, 6-3, to drag the contest into a deciding match tie-break.

On this stage, with this partnership, that always felt dangerous for their opponents.

The tie-break became a test of nerve. Mini-breaks traded, the crowd rising with every winner, every gasp-inducing get. Hewett and Reid leaned on more than a decade of shared experience, reading each other’s movements almost before they happened, closing the court in unison. Point by point, they edged away, closing it out 10-7 to seal another slice of history.

For Reid, now 34, it was a landmark moment: a 30th Grand Slam doubles title, 11 years after his first. Twenty-six of those have come alongside Hewett, a number that underlines not just dominance, but longevity.

“We've not won here for five years so this is something we've been desperate for and highly motivated for,” said 28-year-old Hewett on court, the emotion clear. “It won't be the last, we've got plenty more doubles to play in the future. These are the sort of matches we want to play in front of such an amazing crowd. I'm glad we could put on a bit of a show for you tonight.”

Reid, sitting beside him, allowed himself a smile that carried all those miles travelled and battles fought together. “It's been more than 13 years we've been playing together and he's not sick of me yet. Hopefully we've got a few more years left in us.”

Thirteen years, 30 majors for Reid, and another New York night conquered. The partnership endures, the trophies keep coming – and, on this evidence, they are nowhere near done.