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SJA Sportsman of the Year: The case for Alfie Hewett

Voting has closed for SJA members to decide the winners of three major categories at the SJA British Sports Awards 2024; winners will be announced live on Sky Sports News on Wednesday 20 November; Stuart Broad, Mary Earps and Manchester City’s men’s team claimed the 2023 honours; who will take the top prizes this year?

By Sanjay Suri

In July 2024, Alfie Hewett won the men’s singles at Wimbledon for the first time. Two months later, he won his first-ever Paralympic gold.

In the process, Hewett ensured that his name would forever be etched in history as a tennis player who won every major possible, whilst transforming the perception of disability sport in the UK.

Hewett has long been a pioneer for disability sport and British tennis, winning 30 Grand Slams in all, nine singles and 21 doubles. 

Partnering Gordon Reid, he won his first Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2016, aged just 18. 

Since then the pair have gone from strength to strength and have won six of the last seven Grand Slams, including all three available this year.

However, Hewett has also tasted extensive individual success, this year completing the set of winning singles and doubles titles at all four Slams. 

That was secured by winning his first-ever Wimbledon singles title, defeating Martin De La Puente in the final in straight sets.

Hewett has also been chasing Paralympic glory ever since he broke onto the scene as a teenager at Rio, where he finished second behind Reid.

He and Reid also picked up silver medals in the doubles at Rio and Tokyo, meaning Hewett came to Paris yearning for an elusive gold to complete his collection. 

It was fitting then that it was won alongside Reid, as the pair took their opportunity in the doubles final, winning comfortably in straight sets against Japan. 

Hewett would miss out on individual gold the next day, settling for his second singles silver, but his legacy was cemented the moment his unstoppable drop-shot secured that winning point at Roland Garros.

The thought of playing wheelchair tennis on Court Philippe Chatrier would have been unthinkable ten years ago, but Hewett’s reputation made it a possibility.

Moreover, his dominance in the sport has ignited British interest and seen wheelchair matches move from the outer courts of Wimbledon to playing on Court No.1.

The growth of wheelchair tennis is reflected in the increased size of the draws at Grand Slams and this is due to sporting figures like Hewett.

His inspiration to disabled boys and girls across the country has allowed wheelchair users to be more comfortable with who they are and continues to be an icon of disability sport in the UK. 

At 26, he still has many years to build on his already substantial legacy both on and off the court.

Sports journalist Sanjay Suri is a member of the SJA Academy – find out more about membership here.

Visit our SJA British Sports Awards 2024 hub article for more information.

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