By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday June 10, 2023
In 2022 Japan’s Tokito Oda became the youngest man to ever participate in the wheelchair competition at a Grand Slam. He reached the semifinals, falling to recently retired Shingo Kunieda.
This year the southpaw phenom took it two steps further.
Oda defeated Great Britain’s Alfie Hewett, 6-1, 6-4, in the men’s singles wheelchair final on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Sunday for his maiden Grand Slam title. His victory means that Oda will become the youngest tennis man to ever win a Grand Slam title in any discipline, and the youngest man to ever hold a No.1 ranking.
“Two dreams come true today,” Oda said in his post-match press conference. “I’m just feeling that this is the happiest day of the life.”
Oda’s success comes in the wake of Kunieda’s retirement. The 50-time Grand Slam champion won 28 Grand Slam singles titles during his legendary career.
"I've learned a lot of things from him," Oda said earlier this week in Paris. "Not only about tennis. How to be on tour, how to stay consistent and win at these high-level tournaments - I've learned so many things from him. If I win this tournament I want to also do it for him. He is a legend to me and he is like a teacher for me.
"I'm sad that he's not here, the feeling is much different from last year."