Wheelchair tennis: Semi-finals decided by talent and determination
Top seed Alfie Hewett will have the chance to defend his title on Sunday when he faces one of his fiercest rivals, Gustavo Fernandez, in the final.
The champion stands firm
After treating fans to a memorable final in 2025, Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid renewed their rivalry once again on Court 2 at the Plenitude Arena on Saturday morning.
Given his ranking, his impressive record in Paris and his commanding head-to-head advantage (41-14 before this match), Hewett entered as the favourite and quickly took control. An early break was soon followed by another as the defending champion raced through the opening set 6-3 in just 34 minutes.
Rather than letting the match slip away, Reid weathered the storm and came out swinging at the start of the second set. Much more aggressive on return and significantly sharper behind his own serve, he reeled off four consecutive games to seize the momentum and breathe new life into the contest.
At 5-2 and then again at 5-3, the long-time doubles partners produced a succession of spectacular rallies and moments of brilliance before Reid held his nerve to level the match. After 1 hour and 19 minutes of play, they were back on even terms.
"I got off to a really good start and played my best tennis in the first set," Hewett told us afterwards. "But then my level dipped and Gordon's rose."
Frustrated by a lack of solutions at key moments, and particularly by his inefficiency on break points (converting just six of 17 compared with five of eight for Reid), Hewett managed to reset mentally during the changeover before embarking on one final battle.
The deciding set remained finely balanced throughout, but eventually swung the way of the defending champion. Constantly urging himself forward and pumping his fist after every crucial point, Hewett protected his solitary break advantage all the way to the finish line, sealing a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory after 1 hour and 56 minutes.
"I always try to reset as quickly as possible. I wasn't happy at all with my second set," he continued. "I was a little too defensive and I wasn't putting enough pressure on him, although Gordon deserves credit because he forced me to do a lot more.
"But if you let the frustration from the second set carry over into the third, then you're fighting both yourself and your opponent. I tried to be kinder to myself and stay focused on the present moment. I'm really pleased that I managed to find my level again and close the match out on serve."
The US Open champion will need to avoid a similar lapse on Sunday when Gustavo Fernandez stands across the net in the final.
The Argentine, who saw his run end in the semi-finals against Reid last year, has taken another step forward this season. He booked his place in the championship match with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Martin De La Puente.
Solid from start to finish, Fernandez also experienced a brief dip in the second set but quickly reasserted his authority.
"It was a very good match, very intense," he said. "I played two poor games that cost me the second set, and that shows just how close and competitive the match was.
"After that, I raised my level again, which allowed me to find my rhythm and manage the third set. I focused on my game rather than the score, and I think that made the difference."
Sunday's final between Guga and Alfie will be broadcast live, with commentary from Olivier Jacquemin and Kevin Piette, on the Rolex Paris Masters YouTube channel from noon.
To experience the action courtside and cheer on your favourite player, book your tickets through the official Rolex Paris Masters ticketing platform and head to court 2 for what promises to be a memorable occasion.