Norfolk leads Brit success in US

By Paul Carter

Peter Norfolk claimed his second US Open quad singles title as Great Britain’s tennis players enjoyed great success in the USA.

Norfolk, nicknamed the ‘Quadfather’ extended his tally of wheelchair tennis majors to 16 as he held off American world No 1 David Wagner 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

It was Norfolk’s second Grand Slam win of 2009.

“I’m absolutely delighted to defend my title of 2007,” said Norfolk.

“We couldn’t come here last year because of the overlap of dates with the Paralympics, but I love New York, it has a special buzz about it.

“It’s been a difficult few days with all the scheduling because of rain and today was a see-saw match, which I am just glad to have closed out.”

Great Britain also enjoyed success in the PTR/ROHO Wheelchair Tennis Championships on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with Britain’s top two men’s and women’s players, Gordon Reid, David Phillipson, Lucy Shuker and Jordanne Whiley winning the men’s and women’s singles and doubles titles between them.

There were all British finals in both the men’s and women’s singles. In the men’s competition, British No 1 and top seed Reid took on No 2 Phillipson. It was Reid who proved strongest, recording a 6-4, 6-2 victory for his fourth title of the season.

In the women’s singles, Shuker and Whiley faced off, with British No 1 and world No 11 Shuker winning her first singles title of the season 6-2, 7-5.

Phillipson and Reid won their second men’s doubles title in three weeks to bring their North American tour to a successful end. After victory in an ITF Futures event in Quebec, Canada, a fortnight ago, Phillipson and Reid lived up to their top seeding in their Hilton Head final to beat Canadian second seeds Eric Gilbert and Yann Mathieu 6-0, 6-1.

Shuker and Whiley were also top seeds for the women’s doubles and eased though to the final before beating American second seeds Dana Mathewson and Mackenzie Soldan 6-3, 6-4.