Men's Wheelchair Final Wimbledon


Men's Wheelchair Final

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Well, luckily everybody knows the tune by now and you can have been

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humming along, there was silence on the opening titles. Welcome along to

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an afternoon of tennis action unlike any other, four British players in

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final two macro action, Andy Murray taking on the last Raonic on Centre

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Court -- in Finals Day action. We have Heather Watson and Henri

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continent in the Mixed Doubles and later on in the final of the women's

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Wheelchair Doubles, Jordanne Whiley alongside Yui Kamiji. I am here at

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Court 17, where there is a fair amount of uncertainty, because we

:01:24.:01:28.

don't know yet whether it is going to get covered or not. Alfie Hewett

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is alongside me. The new Wheelchair Doubles champion, alongside Gordon

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Reid, who will see in the singles and Peter Norfolk, known as the king

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of wheelchair tennis, the Quadfather. Alfie, congratulations,

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talk us through yesterday and how you are feeling this morning.

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Yesterday was a surreal day. I remember the previous night, I

:01:58.:02:02.

didn't get much sleep at all, thinking about what it would be like

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if I won and what it would feel like and then to win, it was an

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incredible feeling and to do it in the way we did, in the third set

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tie-break, having those match points, not getting them and taken

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them the third time, it kind of made that moment even more special. So

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going back to the hotel last night, it was just exhausting, I just kind

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of went to sleep, really, because I didn't get much sleep the day

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before, it was a long match and, so, yeah, enjoy the moment by myself. It

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was a tense match because the French player they were up against, Peter,

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came back strongly -- the French pair. It was a huge match and

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Houdet, the number one in singles, has such massive court presence. But

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Alfie Hewett and Gordon were amazing. Alfie particularly, he was

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aggressive, fantastic, up and down and really exciting to watch. We are

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hearing the players have been called out so we are hoping that play will

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start very shortly because Gordon, your doubles partner, is coming out

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to try and be the first-ever singles champion in wheelchair tennis at

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Wimbledon, they have never had a wheelchair competition before. In

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terms of recovery, Alfie, given the emotional physical and mental

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roller-coaster you went through yesterday, how is Gordon and head

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you think he will fare today? I think Gordon will have been smart

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with what he did yesterday. What, making you do all the work? Not at

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all, he played a massive part, but in the locker room, as soon as we

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got back in, he was in the physio, doing his recovery stock, not on his

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phone like me, looking at everybody tweeting me. He has been in this

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situation before, he knows how to look after himself and I think today

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will be a really tough match for him, Olsson is playing really well

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recently, but I believe that he has got the confidence right now and I

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think he will be fine. So Gordon Reid of Great Britain up against

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Stefan Olsson from Sweden. Let's hear from Gordon, his thoughts about

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this final. First of all, congratulations on the

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doubles success. What is the emotion at the moment, still feeling on our

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high? Definitely, it wasn't too long ago, the final, so feeling

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fantastic. It is a massive occasion for us today, first time playing

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together in a Grand Slam and obviously with a lot of home support

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backing us, so to come out on top was an incredible feeling. You have

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spoken to the number of people on a number of times about how special

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Wimbledon is and how much it means, I guess, because it is a home

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tournament. Yes, it is an event that pretty much everybody around the

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world knows of, it is a tournament that is steeped in tradition,

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something I grew up watching on TV. It is the one tournament that

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everyone in the UK watches, in the summer, so to be here and be a

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Wimbledon champion in the doubles with Alfie and also have the

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opportunity to make it a double success tomorrow, it is an amazing

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feeling. You had an amazing feeling here last week, though, didn't you

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question mark when you were in the Royal box and the Sue Barker

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announced you. -- didn't you? It has been a bit of a surreal week,

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starting off in the Royal box and then being involved in the draw, the

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first time there have been singles here, and then winning a couple of

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matches, the first match, the Duchess was watching me. So it has

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kind of been a crazy week so hopefully it can be a good ending

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tomorrow. Of course, this is a massive year. Not only is it the

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first time singles are in play at Wimbledon but it is Olympic year.

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How much pressure do you think there is to succeed this year? Well, I

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think there is maybe a little bit of pressure but when you are successful

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and you are playing well and performing well, people expect you

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to win more often, so I would rather be in that situation than losing

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every match and nobody expected me to win at having no pressure. It is

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a big year for us, this is a big event, having the singles here for

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the first time and obviously looking towards Rio and the Paralympics, it

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will be my third Games and definitely my best chance of coming

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home with a medal, so this is good preparation for that.

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And Gordon Reid has just arrived here on Court 17, Stefan Olsson as

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well. Olsson came out with his headphones on. Gordon is switching

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into his match chair, specially designed for wheelchairs tennis.

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Alfie Hewett alongside me, you have spent more time with Gordon than

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anybody in the last week. In terms of facing big occasions, what is he

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like? Well, he is very calm and that showed a lot in our doubles match

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yesterday. His presence on the court kept me calm at certain points

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during that match, because I was a bit fiery yesterday, with it being

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my first final. My intensity and my emotions were very high yesterday,

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but this isn't the first time Gordon has been in the final this year. He

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has been in the Australian Open and at Roland Garros as well, he has had

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that experience, so I am guessing right now that he will be relaxed

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and calm and that is when he plays his best tennis. How much does it

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mean to him to have a chance to be the first-ever singles champion here

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in wheelchair tennis? I know it means a lot to him. Just from

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hearing him talk in the press conference yesterday and speaking to

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me in person about it, I know that winning today would be a massive

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thing for him. Peter, how much other part of the crowd play? There is a

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big gang of friends and supporters, they were there for the doubles,

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chanting his nickname. That will be a big factor. We have had the same

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at the Paralympic Games. Here, I think the support will be massive

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for Gordon and he will really get up for it. Obviously, Gordon will be

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remembering very positively what happened in yesterday's doubles when

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he and Alfie came back from 5-2 down in the deciding set. They took it to

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a tie-break and this was the match point, finally converted on Gordon's

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serve. The mistake from their French opponents and the celebrations were

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a bit special. To be fair, he nearly broke my back, as you can see. I had

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to tell him to get off. It was one of those where I had dreams of what

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it would be like, whether I would cry, whether we would go in for hugs

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or fist pump, I didn't know what would happen. We came together and

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enjoyed the moment together as a team, because that is what we are.

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That was yesterday. Today, obviously a different day for Gordon Reid and

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a different challenge and a different style of play, singles

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rather than doubles. Does he can to stay on the baseline in singles,

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Alfie, or will we see him move up court? I think he will vary it a

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lot. Gordon has got a very good touch with his hands, we saw it

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yesterday with his drop shots and his volleys, so I wouldn't be

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surprised if he does try and approach the net a lot more,

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especially with it being a final. Coming into the net but that little

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more pressure on Stefan Olsson and I think it could work in Gordon's

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favour. What about Stefan Olsson, they have played plenty of times

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before, Peter. They have, Peter has a better head-to-head, but you can't

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take it away from Stefan, he does a lot of other sports, he was a

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Paralympic gold medallist in London 2012, he has got a lot of history as

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well, but conditions are a bit heavy, so I think it will be a bit

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slow and very hard on them, on the muscles, because as soon as they

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stop pushing, the Chair dies. It is not like on a hard court. On grass,

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the natural slice that Gordon has got, is it even more effective on

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grass than other surfaces? Definitely, one of the biggest

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strength Gordon has is his slice and playing against him in training, one

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of the best things about it is you don't know where it is going to go.

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That is why I have struggled massively against him in the past,

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you think he is going for a slice and then he drop shots you and he

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has that technique where he can drop shot, slide it out wide or heat

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through it. I think that is going to work massively in his favour today.

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How important you think it is the profile of wheelchair tennis, for

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yourself and Gordon, Jordanne Whiley, that this is here at

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Wimbledon and at a court that... People are leaning in from court 16,

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if we had a bigger court, it would be full. How much difference do

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think it will make? It is massive for wheelchair tennis. You saw it

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yesterday, training -- trending on Twitter, it was massive. I didn't

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know how many people watching, it would have made me more nervous but

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wheelchair tennis is a great sport and looking at the comments people

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are making about it, we feel like we may be deserved to be on a bigger

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court. I think we could attract more people. The sport is good, it is at

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a good level, women's and men's. Yesterday, people climbing over the

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fences and looking over the balconies. We can attract the

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spectators and we work hard back in training and I think we would like

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that chance to be on a bigger court. Alfie has put it so well, Peter, and

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had you had the opportunity to play in a singles final at Wimbledon, it

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would have been very special. How big moment you think this is? This

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is the premier moment in the world, Wimbledon, you can't get any bigger

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when you are talking about tennis. With all my other wins, this is huge

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for Gordon, you can't take it away. Is just a massive stadium and

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platform for wheelchair tennis to move on. It is wonderful for British

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tennis, it is in a great vein of form at the moment, we have some

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really good gold medal hopes, Grand Slams, it is fantastic to be here.

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Peter, I will let you head back to the commentary box. Alfie is going

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to stake back at stay courtside to support Gordon Reid. It is amazing

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how many young people have turned up to support Gordon Reid. How old are

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you guys? 12 and 11. Alfie, you are a bit of a hero for them, I suspect.

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I don't know if I would go hero, but I would hope I am an inspiration to

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them to get out there and play tennis. Tennis is one of the best

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sports out there, I believe, and so to get as many people into tennis is

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openly what I could do yesterday. You certainly did that winning the

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doubles and you and everyone else will be hoping that everyone else --

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Gordon Cavallo sub. Let's hand you over to the commentary team. Peter

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Norfolk will be there, alongside Nick Mullins.

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MICK MULLINS Good morning everybody, what a day for the tennis players on

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wheels, and here is one of the best. Gordon Reid, a left-hander, about to

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embark on the third Grand Slam final of his year. He won in Australia, he

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was runner-up in Paris, but this, because it is what it is, the most

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special of them all, the first ever Wimbledon singles final. We have had

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doubles here, we have been enjoying doubles here for over ten years now.

:13:53.:14:01.

The men before the women, but for the first time, this is also, who

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knocked out the favourite Uday in the final. The umpire is British for

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this first Wimbledon singles finals. Olsson, the 29-year-old Swede, his

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country's most successful player ever and like the Britain on the

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other side of the net, he was a world junior number one in the early

:14:30.:14:34.

days. Gordon Reid, 24-year-old Scot, from Glasgow, Britain's best men's

:14:35.:14:40.

player right now, in the middle of a simply extraordinary week. Wimbledon

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champion in the doubles yesterday with Alfie Hewett and maybe, maybe,

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Wimbledon champion in the singles within the next couple of hours. And

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he has the honour of getting this final under way.

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UMPIRE: Ready, play. Wonderful return from Stefan Olsson,

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who has been as high as number two in the world. Currently number

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seven, Gordon Reid number three by now. Stephane Houdet and Joachim

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Gerard ahead of him. Talking a lot about that backhand

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slice from Reid in the build-up and he used it to good effect there. I

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think we will see a lot more of that. Gordon will push him behind

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the baseline and then. Any nerves there might have been

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hopefully dissipated by now. You have been courtside, Peter, is a

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little bit damp, how tough of the conditions right now? It is going to

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be really tough. The few spots of rain.

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And starts affecting their pressure is on the hand reins, and it is

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blustery are not that one. -- rims. We could have done with whether they

:19:04.:19:21.

had last year, but they have their tyres pumped up really high.

:19:22.:19:32.

120, 140 psi, so they do not take in.

:19:33.:20:06.

Admiring the background, Peter. I think we will see a lot more of that

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undercut slice from Olsson. Keeping the ball really low.

:20:17.:20:28.

And he wins his first game to love. The ball really coming off, the

:20:29.:20:41.

drizzle land damp in the air not helping the ball. It is really

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skidding off, there is not much time to react. It is going to be a tough

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little match coming up. Unless the sun pops out, hopefully.

:20:56.:21:12.

Lots of you will have enjoyed wheelchair tennis for years but one

:21:13.:21:19.

or two might be churning of the first time. Pretty much the same

:21:20.:21:23.

rules as able-bodied tennis. -- tuning in. Exactly the same. The one

:21:24.:21:32.

difference you will have noticed is the ball is allowed to bounce twice.

:21:33.:21:37.

First bounce within the confines of the court, the second bounce can be

:21:38.:21:41.

anywhere. But generally the top players will try and take it off the

:21:42.:21:43.

first bounce. That will give your opponent less

:21:44.:21:47.

time. Two good serves across the body

:21:48.:22:26.

falls. -- of Olsson. How did he do that? Goodness me. I

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was going to say it was out. Boomerang.

:23:29.:23:32.

Like a baseball pitch. Ridiculous. Deuce.

:23:33.:23:41.

He must have been watching the football, bend it like Beckham.

:23:42.:24:13.

Talking a lot about the challenges of sitting around on this surface,

:24:14.:24:20.

but it is that much harder particularly going backwards. As

:24:21.:24:27.

soon as they let go of the chair on a hard-coded travels but not on

:24:28.:24:32.

grass. Gordon got caught out trying to spin out of

:24:33.:24:42.

And there is no leader to this, they come straight from clay onto grass.

:24:43.:24:48.

They have been practising up the road at Roehampton. On the grass

:24:49.:24:54.

courts and the National tennis Centre and there has been a

:24:55.:24:57.

concierge about having a couple of lead up tournaments perhaps next

:24:58.:24:58.

year. -- conversation. This is the first time they have had

:24:59.:25:36.

singles here at Wimbledon so this could be historical. Olsson in the

:25:37.:25:41.

end with the angle that won it with Reid de behind the baseline. That

:25:42.:25:47.

was good tennis from Olsson. -- deep behind. He took out world number one

:25:48.:25:49.

Stephane Houdet in the semifinal. Break point for the Swede. He knows

:25:50.:26:26.

what it feels like to be a Wimbledon champion, doubles winner in 2010.

:26:27.:26:29.

Lots of experience. Now the breeze picking up. You will

:26:30.:27:00.

notice Olsson at the far end on the move.

:27:01.:27:10.

The wind coming across as well, taking the ball, they are going to

:27:11.:27:21.

have to be more careful. The wind going across more than it is going

:27:22.:27:22.

down. Tricky. Calm and collected, top-spin

:27:23.:27:51.

forehand into the space. It looks like they are coming off. We had

:27:52.:27:59.

been warned... Ladies and gentlemen, play is suspended. The rain coming

:28:00.:28:10.

down quite heavily. What a shame. There is no roof here. It might be

:28:11.:28:18.

awhile they get a roof out to court 17, I suspect. Perhaps we will move

:28:19.:28:24.

up one court. With the spectacle we have had this week with wheelchair

:28:25.:28:28.

tennis, it has been fantastic. It really has and there has been lots

:28:29.:28:31.

of talk about moving on to bigger courts next year. For the time being

:28:32.:28:38.

the only court that is covered is Centre Court and they are busy on

:28:39.:28:41.

that one in a couple of hours. We are told in will just be sporadic

:28:42.:28:47.

showers, they are not going to hang around long. It will be interesting

:28:48.:28:54.

to see if they cover the courts. It does look as if the players are

:28:55.:29:00.

heading off. And now it looks like the sun has come out. The players

:29:01.:29:10.

have switched into the day chairs, Peter, at least Stefan Olsson has.

:29:11.:29:14.

Different to the one he plays tennis in. Absolutely, it is a lot easier,

:29:15.:29:20.

narrower, you do not want to use your sports centre, tennis check,

:29:21.:29:24.

you would never get through the doorways. Camber on the whales to

:29:25.:29:29.

give them stability which makes them ternary fast. -- wheels. Smaller and

:29:30.:29:39.

harder front casters, that makes them quicker and lighter. The chair

:29:40.:29:44.

is made of all sorts of materials now, principally titanium. Someone

:29:45.:29:51.

like Stephane Houdet has a Fandango carbon fibre chair. We can talk more

:29:52.:29:58.

about that over the next few hours but for the time being we are

:29:59.:30:01.

hanging around waiting for the rain to stop.

:30:02.:30:16.

There is one from the sun, but you can't really just yet. I am here

:30:17.:30:22.

with Alper, you have to deal with these moments, as well as the

:30:23.:30:26.

occasion from the final -- with Alfie. As a tennis player, one of

:30:27.:30:29.

the biggest annoyances is these breaks, you prepare police badges

:30:30.:30:33.

and you get so in the zone and then you have these periods where you

:30:34.:30:38.

don't play -- you prepare for these matches. I thought Gordon was

:30:39.:30:43.

playing very well, under a great deal of pressure on his serve, it is

:30:44.:30:47.

definitely more windy up this end, you found that yesterday. I think

:30:48.:30:53.

Gordon has got of row to a really good start, it is only 1-1,

:30:54.:30:58.

advantage to Gordon. He is relaxed, he looks calm on the ball. I think

:30:59.:31:03.

he has maybe mis-hit one ball so far, so considering it is a massive

:31:04.:31:06.

occasion for him, he has really dealt with his nerves well. So has

:31:07.:31:13.

Stefan Olsson, he is moving really well on the court, hitting his slice

:31:14.:31:17.

really well and it is turning out to be a really good match. They

:31:18.:31:21.

obviously don't want to bring the covers across the rain is going to

:31:22.:31:27.

stop quickly but it is going to make the surface slippery. Definitely and

:31:28.:31:30.

that will suit both players, because they both love the slice. The ball

:31:31.:31:33.

is going to skip through the court more. I think the movement will be

:31:34.:31:40.

easier, because the wheels will be closer to ground, they can get more

:31:41.:31:43.

tread on the wheels. They will move more and that will make it even

:31:44.:31:46.

tougher for them, because there will be longer rallies, which makes it

:31:47.:31:52.

tough to push around the court, but definitely, it is going to be

:31:53.:31:57.

interesting. Stefan is right here behind us, having an umbrella held

:31:58.:32:02.

over him, as indeed I am. He is an immense player, he has been so

:32:03.:32:07.

successful over the years. Definitely, he has been one of the

:32:08.:32:10.

most successful wheelchair tennis players. He has obviously got a lot

:32:11.:32:15.

of experience. Like Peter said, he has played in different Paralympics,

:32:16.:32:19.

he played in the Winter Paralympics, which not many athletes get to do,

:32:20.:32:25.

so it shows his determination and his motivation in sport and his self

:32:26.:32:30.

drive, because to be able to do that in two different sports is really

:32:31.:32:35.

incredible, I take my hat off to him. He won Gold at London 2012, I

:32:36.:32:41.

remember watching that match and he was very much the experienced player

:32:42.:32:46.

there again and he is with someone I never like to come against, because

:32:47.:32:49.

he knows how to work the ball and where to hit the spots in the court,

:32:50.:32:54.

very experienced, like I said. That is why I think that they will be

:32:55.:32:58.

very interesting. He has held serve to love in his only service game,

:32:59.:33:02.

whereas Gordon was taken to deuce and is under pressure in his second

:33:03.:33:06.

service game. When they do resume, it be advantageous Reid. I think it

:33:07.:33:14.

has stopped raining -- at Vantage Reid. I am going to talk to you,

:33:15.:33:19.

have you watched wheelchair tennis before? I haven't, it is the first

:33:20.:33:25.

time I have been to Wimbledon. I am with my brother, who's just over

:33:26.:33:29.

there and he been loads of times. Hello! This is the first time really

:33:30.:33:37.

coming. What do you think of it? I didn't really expect it. I have

:33:38.:33:42.

never been here, so I thought it was going to be just one massive court

:33:43.:33:48.

and then I knew there were loads of these courts, but I thought you had

:33:49.:33:53.

to buy a seat or something, so it was kind of nice that you could just

:33:54.:33:58.

watch it and see. It is such an experience and really, really nice.

:33:59.:34:07.

And you are James? J. You have come a times. Four times. How come? One

:34:08.:34:19.

time, I won tickets where Andy Murray trained. He saw the 2015

:34:20.:34:25.

final with Djokovic and Federer. You were on Centre Court for that? How

:34:26.:34:32.

old were you? Eight. So you are nine now. You are watching the wheelchair

:34:33.:34:36.

tennis, are you supporting Gordon Reid? Yes. What do you make of

:34:37.:34:42.

wheelchair tennis? I don't know if they have two bounces? They can have

:34:43.:34:48.

two, but quite often they take it on the single bounce, but they are

:34:49.:34:52.

allowed two if they needed. Do you see how much wrist action they are

:34:53.:34:58.

using and the slice? They do it really high, so they can't get it

:34:59.:35:04.

back, because they are sitting down. Exactly, so the lob is an important

:35:05.:35:09.

job. Thank you for the impromptu interview. We are hearing that it is

:35:10.:35:14.

less than five minutes until play will resume and the net is going

:35:15.:35:19.

back up, fantastic. So, Alfie, I am going to grab the brolly, can I just

:35:20.:35:26.

give you that? Good, excellent, so only a short break, but obviously

:35:27.:35:29.

for the players, they have been sitting, waiting. Do you get to warm

:35:30.:35:36.

up again or have we not been long enough off? I think it has been too

:35:37.:35:43.

short, so they will go straight back into the match. So Gordon has do

:35:44.:35:48.

resume on serve, advantageous Reid. At least it is not a break point.

:35:49.:35:54.

That is one of the tough things, going back without any warm up, so

:35:55.:35:58.

you need to keep your upper body lose, keep in the zone, so you can

:35:59.:36:02.

go straight back into the match itself without having to take time.

:36:03.:36:06.

The last thing you want now is to go back feeling sluggish and

:36:07.:36:11.

demotivated. I think both players, just from watching them, have kept

:36:12.:36:17.

in the zone, Stefan has been quite calm and chilled and Gordon, with

:36:18.:36:22.

the support around him. They are starting again already. With the

:36:23.:36:27.

support behind him, Gordon will find it easier to get that drive and

:36:28.:36:32.

motivation. And it really helps that this is not Gordon's first Grand

:36:33.:36:38.

Slam final. He has won the Australian Open, runner-up at Roland

:36:39.:36:41.

Garros. His first Wimbledon final, because no one has played in the

:36:42.:36:45.

Wheelchair Singles at Wimbledon so far, but he seems naturally calm by

:36:46.:36:51.

nature. I think last year, when he was making semifinals in the Grand

:36:52.:36:54.

Slams, I remember him saying he had a monkey on his back over the Grand

:36:55.:36:58.

Slams because he wasn't able to perform may be how he wanted to, but

:36:59.:37:03.

this year, he seems to have turned it around. Winning the Australian

:37:04.:37:07.

Open, I think, has been a massive confidence booster for him at the

:37:08.:37:11.

Grand Slams and that has led to him making Roland Garros and now

:37:12.:37:15.

Wimbledon. He doesn't want to hang around, he is in his match chair.

:37:16.:37:20.

You can see how the wheels are sloped inwards. I noticed Stephane

:37:21.:37:23.

Houdet eight, who you were playing in doubles, his chair was totally

:37:24.:37:27.

different to everybody else's. He has spent a load of money on a

:37:28.:37:34.

carbon fibre chair, which is very light. It seems like it is very

:37:35.:37:41.

unstable but it gives him the ability to swing more freely, his

:37:42.:37:45.

strength on the ball was still good but I think if you get them at the

:37:46.:37:49.

feet or you make him reach, he can lose that balance because there is

:37:50.:37:54.

no support there at all. I think he has maybe one strap that keeps him

:37:55.:37:58.

in his chair, but how much that actually helps him, I don't know.

:37:59.:38:02.

Fair play to him, it is a great design and I think it certainly

:38:03.:38:05.

enhanced his performance. These chairs, are they titanium? Yes, they

:38:06.:38:15.

cost a lot of money. How much? I am getting a new chair for the

:38:16.:38:18.

Paralympics and that costs just under six grand. So you have to look

:38:19.:38:24.

after it! Yes, I am hoping the airlines keep it nice and clean too.

:38:25.:38:29.

These are the equivalent of Formula One cars, specifically designed for

:38:30.:38:33.

this purpose. They have the smaller wheels underneath so you can move

:38:34.:38:37.

from side to side more easily. Obviously, you can't tell the big

:38:38.:38:42.

wheels are there to help turn the Chair more quickly, that is why they

:38:43.:38:46.

are slanted, because if you try pushing with the day chair wheels,

:38:47.:38:50.

it is impossible, you lose your balance and with the one at the

:38:51.:38:55.

back, that is for balance as well. With day cheers, -- HS, you don't

:38:56.:39:03.

have anti-keep. These chairs are amazing. These chairs are amazing.

:39:04.:39:10.

If you look at the past ten years and have developed the chairs are,

:39:11.:39:15.

it is amazing. The stuff from Alfie Hewett, Gordon Reid's partner and a

:39:16.:39:21.

new Wimbledon doubles champion. So a real test for Gordon, resuming here,

:39:22.:39:26.

advantageous Reid, we don't think there will be any warm up. Let's

:39:27.:39:29.

hand you back to Peter Norfolk and Mick Mullins.

:39:30.:39:35.

-- Nick Mullins. Thank you very much. We have the world expert on

:39:36.:39:48.

wheelchair design, Peter Norfolk. Now, as Alfie was saying, these are

:39:49.:39:53.

six, seven or eight grand, but Stephane Houdet a's chair is in the

:39:54.:39:58.

stratosphere. He was knocked out in the semifinals. I'm trying to

:39:59.:40:01.

describe it and where the design is going. What Stephane Houdet a has

:40:02.:40:06.

done, in collaboration with a company that have really gone into

:40:07.:40:13.

carbon fibre, but spoke and specific to his disability and ability and

:40:14.:40:17.

how he wants to play tennis. He essentially wants to play standing

:40:18.:40:23.

up tennis at a sitting down level, but he doesn't want to be centrally

:40:24.:40:30.

sitting down. So he has taken his knees out of the equation. When you

:40:31.:40:34.

are sat down, your knees are in the way, you can't hit shots right in

:40:35.:40:38.

front of you and food a's new carbon fibre per spoke chair thing --

:40:39.:40:47.

Stephane Houdet a's new carbon fibre bespoke chair has given him more

:40:48.:40:53.

balance and he has to use a lot of core strength to balance the

:40:54.:40:58.

machine. The hand rims are bigger so he has more grip and it is all about

:40:59.:41:03.

the first push off the mark, so you can get to the ball. He has bigger

:41:04.:41:08.

front castors. If you look at some of these chairs here, Gordon Reid

:41:09.:41:14.

and Stefan Olsson's chairs are titanium, they have smaller front

:41:15.:41:25.

casters, high pressure tyres. Houdet was pumped up to 160 psi. It is

:41:26.:41:32.

fascinating stuff, he is looking to change the boundaries and Houdet

:41:33.:41:37.

wants to move forward. We have had those leaps in the last couple of

:41:38.:41:42.

decades. He does. You have to have a bit of cash though, ?100,000 to buy

:41:43.:41:47.

one of those chairs. So back under after a delay of about 15 minutes in

:41:48.:41:52.

total and it was at a critical point, because Gordon Reid was

:41:53.:41:58.

trying to serve out the third game of the opening set. It had been on

:41:59.:42:06.

serve for the first two games and a marathon third game, with Reid

:42:07.:42:10.

working hard on his serve. The rain came down but we have been told we

:42:11.:42:13.

will have the odd shower over the next hour or so, nothing that ought

:42:14.:42:19.

to be to prolonged and the players, because they were held up for 50

:42:20.:42:22.

minutes, we'll get a three minute warm up, and it was interesting to

:42:23.:42:28.

see Gordon Reid making sure the chair was as dry as possible,

:42:29.:42:32.

because they will need the grip to do moves like that. Absolutely, any

:42:33.:42:38.

bit of drizzle, if you have a titanium handle, your hand slips and

:42:39.:42:42.

as soon as your hand slips, you missed the first push and you will

:42:43.:42:46.

not get to the ball, so it is crucial that they keep a hand rail

:42:47.:42:51.

dry, so when they towelled down, you will see often that they often

:42:52.:42:58.

towelled down a hand grip as well. Stefan Olsson, the Swede, the

:42:59.:43:04.

29-year-old, for the benefit of newcomers, a double Paralympic

:43:05.:43:11.

champion, he won a crosstown at Eton Manor in 2012, Sweden's first-ever

:43:12.:43:17.

gold medal in the event. A Silva medallist four years earlier in

:43:18.:43:21.

Beijing. He is an outstanding athlete. We have already mentioned

:43:22.:43:28.

he was a Wimbledon champion in 2010, runner-up in the doubles at Roland

:43:29.:43:31.

Garros last month, where, incidentally, he lost to Gordon Reid

:43:32.:43:37.

and Shingo Kunieda, whose name might be familiar. Kunieda, arguably when

:43:38.:43:42.

he is fit and at his best, is the best player in the world, bit he is

:43:43.:43:47.

not here because he is injured and wants to make sure he is ready for

:43:48.:43:51.

Rio next month -- but he is not here. Absolutely but it will be

:43:52.:43:56.

interesting, Gordon is number three, he has beaten Shingo Kunieda.

:43:57.:44:01.

Gustavo Fernandez is always a threat. Olsson, obviously Houdet. I

:44:02.:44:05.

think it is not a Shingo Kunieda year. All of these players now have

:44:06.:44:10.

seen some infallibility, a bit of a gap, a bit of daylight and I think

:44:11.:44:17.

with Rio coming up, they are all thinking they are in with a chance

:44:18.:44:20.

and it is fantastic for world wheelchair tennis, let alone British

:44:21.:44:24.

wheelchair tennis, if Gordon does this arena double here. He will be

:44:25.:44:29.

on top of the world and so full of confidence. And how great to see

:44:30.:44:33.

this. I wondered in early yesterday morning and the hill was absolutely

:44:34.:44:38.

full of folk watching Gordon Reid playing the semifinal... Playing the

:44:39.:44:43.

final with Alfie Hewett in the doubles. And I know one of their big

:44:44.:44:48.

desires is just to spread the word, to show exactly what is possible as

:44:49.:44:53.

an athlete when you are doing what they are doing, sitting in her

:44:54.:44:57.

chair. And this is perfect, the biggest platform for wheelchair

:44:58.:45:01.

tennis in the world. Wimbledon is the premier event, soak for

:45:02.:45:05.

wheelchair tennis here, this is fantastic, and I am so happy. I have

:45:06.:45:09.

been playing tennis for decades, it feels like, and we are now at the

:45:10.:45:14.

pinnacle of singles and doubles at Wimbledon, singles and doubles at

:45:15.:45:19.

all of the other Grand Slams and this is just wonderful parity, I am

:45:20.:45:23.

just so happy for them. And having Gordon Reid in the final? Again?

:45:24.:45:26.

Wow, this has been a great weekend. It is not over yet. Great week for

:45:27.:45:43.

him, with Jordanne Whiley, introduced to the Royal box last

:45:44.:45:48.

Saturday on Centre Court. Reid advantage on his own serve.

:45:49.:46:19.

He is not short of support. The Reid army wearing the Alice Barnes that

:46:20.:46:28.

have become quite a fashion accessory. -- Alice bands. It could

:46:29.:46:38.

be a ponytail next, Gareth Bale stack? His mum. In the white blouse

:46:39.:46:51.

at the back. And his sister Emily with the Garland. Steven Davis his

:46:52.:46:57.

brothers probably there as well. And dad Graham.

:46:58.:47:08.

One server at the start of this final.

:47:09.:47:49.

That is a wow I can, you have got to say.

:47:50.:47:57.

The key to the return is to be on the Move author.

:47:58.:48:18.

Putting the pressure on by rolling across the baseline. The challenge

:48:19.:48:24.

for the server when you are hitting from static is to get moving as

:48:25.:48:28.

quickly as possible. And pick the spot, so you can work out where the

:48:29.:48:36.

return is coming. As soon as you serve you have to remove.

:48:37.:49:23.

Stefan Nielsen squandered the break point in the previous game and now

:49:24.:49:31.

after the rain delay there is a chance for Reid.

:49:32.:49:51.

Brilliantly played by Olsson. That ball could have spat anywhere. And

:49:52.:50:00.

very lucky, you mustn't touch the net the chair either so he had to

:50:01.:50:05.

spin out. Fantastic play. Moving into the forehand so well.

:50:06.:51:02.

Beautiful down the line. Gordon Reid makes the first

:51:03.:51:33.

significant move in this final. He has broken.

:51:34.:51:42.

Both men have to exploit the gaps because it is heavy going in the

:51:43.:51:48.

chair. It is harder to get moving and keep the chair moving. As soon

:51:49.:51:54.

as they have got a chance hit it back behind, sliced loaf. Great play

:51:55.:51:57.

by Gordon Reid. -- slice low. The big Rangers fan, Mark Warburton

:51:58.:52:20.

amongst those sending their congratulations yesterday when he

:52:21.:52:24.

won the doubles, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as well. Making

:52:25.:52:27.

headlines for himself and the sport this week.

:52:28.:52:41.

Gordon looking comfortable. Keeping on putting the pressure on Olsson.

:52:42.:52:52.

Keep doing that so Olsson does not get his confidence up.

:52:53.:53:22.

You paid for the racket, you might as well use all of it will stop

:53:23.:53:29.

slight mis-hit. He will take anything he can get.

:53:30.:53:52.

The sounds of Wimbledon, the band in the distance. And a packed court 17.

:53:53.:54:26.

If the ball hits the chair then you have lost the point. Really jammed

:54:27.:54:34.

up there by the inaccuracy of Olsson. It is a good technical shot

:54:35.:54:39.

to hit it straight back and the player.

:54:40.:54:46.

-- straight back at the player. Olsson playing a bit further up the

:54:47.:54:59.

court. He has been jammed pack a long way behind the baseline.

:55:00.:55:08.

Has to be careful, Gordon can export the gaps easier if he stays that far

:55:09.:55:14.

back, like that. Once again Reid having to date card

:55:15.:56:35.

to hold onto his serve but hold on he does. -- having to dig hard.

:56:36.:56:48.

He has a good support group looking after him, just standing up in the

:56:49.:56:54.

white cab is strewn Wilkinson, league coach of British wheelchair

:56:55.:56:58.

tennis, based up the road at Roehampton. And next up is Karen, in

:56:59.:57:08.

the red, Karen Ross working with Gordon Reid for the best part of ten

:57:09.:57:12.

years. And she has worked with Andy Murray as well when he was growing

:57:13.:57:17.

up in Dunblane. She is bring much part of what Gordon Reid is doing

:57:18.:57:20.

right now. And it bit of history, Stuart Wilkinson has a history of

:57:21.:57:26.

winning, he used to be my coach. We know how to win and we know how to

:57:27.:57:34.

bring people through. We have more juniors, anyone can play wheelchair

:57:35.:57:38.

tennis. That is what we are so pleased about. There are still

:57:39.:57:43.

people not realising you can play wheelchair tennis. The quality is

:57:44.:57:49.

amazing. I expected more slice from Olsson, more backhand slice, to

:57:50.:57:51.

really knife it into Gordon. That is what Olsson did to read in

:57:52.:58:39.

the previous point. Reid is good friends with Andy

:58:40.:59:15.

Murray, they shared Scottish International tennis Player of the

:59:16.:59:24.

Year award last year. He was so bridging single success and the

:59:25.:59:26.

Australian Open with Andy Murray watching on earlier this year. --

:59:27.:59:31.

celebrating singles success. How about that? And a couple of

:59:32.:00:00.

little spins at the end of it to celebrate. That was amazing. Gordon

:00:01.:00:07.

skidded to a stop. Fabulous chair control.

:00:08.:00:14.

Now, then. Two more points for a double break

:00:15.:00:19.

of serve. Those shots behind the Chair, Peter,

:00:20.:00:43.

so often so profitable. Expecting more of those from Olsson, those

:00:44.:00:44.

knife slices. Stefan Olsson has lost his last two

:00:45.:01:19.

service games. That means Scotland's Gordon Reid is on the brink of

:01:20.:01:23.

taking the first set in this first ever Wimbledon singles final.

:01:24.:01:46.

What a start for Reid. He will be really happy with this, getting off

:01:47.:01:54.

to a great 5-1 lead. Just what he wanted to do.

:01:55.:02:07.

It is the 20th time they have met on the circuit, first in 2009. Olsson

:02:08.:02:21.

won the first four matches, and the last in South Africa.

:02:22.:02:28.

There is a big worldwide circuit now. In between, play psi 14 in a

:02:29.:02:35.

row. That was a really cute backhand. -- they play 14.

:02:36.:03:06.

There was a word of acknowledgement immediately from Reid.

:03:07.:03:13.

Smart play, he could see Reid was right behind the baseline. Pinned

:03:14.:03:19.

him back there and dropped a short ball into the service box.

:03:20.:04:03.

You really can't wait for the second bounce on these courts. Gordon

:04:04.:04:09.

pushed Olsson right back and waited for the second bounce. If it is not

:04:10.:04:14.

good, it has to be taken on one bounce.

:04:15.:04:23.

Here we go, watch this backhand, top-spin, out the air. That is great

:04:24.:04:34.

confidence, isn't it? At the right time, at just the right

:04:35.:05:09.

time, he has rediscovered his best form. Absolutely, Olsson really

:05:10.:05:14.

knifed his backhand and Gordon just swatted away.

:05:15.:05:23.

Gordon Reid is on his way. He is halfway towards becoming the

:05:24.:05:30.

Wimbledon singles champion. He has taken the first set 6-1.

:05:31.:05:39.

CLAIRE BALDING: A terrific hold of serve, he saved two break points,

:05:40.:05:46.

served it out and I am with his doubles partner Alfie Hewett, what

:05:47.:05:51.

is your reaction to the way he has started? A very positive start. He

:05:52.:05:55.

has come out here and dominated the play. He has kind of taken it to

:05:56.:06:01.

Stefan and ask the question and so far, I think he has had a response.

:06:02.:06:05.

One of the biggest differences I have noticed with Gordon between

:06:06.:06:10.

this match and previous matches is Gordon is really hitting through the

:06:11.:06:14.

ball. He is really using his angles well, mixing the pace up. He is

:06:15.:06:20.

slicing, using his reverse backhand, which I didn't think he would use as

:06:21.:06:25.

much as he has done. Gordon has really come out here positive,

:06:26.:06:31.

aggressive, and that showed in that sector. Testaments to his

:06:32.:06:34.

psychological strength, he hasn't lost a game sent back the rate since

:06:35.:06:41.

the rain break. -- since the rain break. Definitely, I was wrong about

:06:42.:06:48.

the warm up! He has come out, he has focused and he has got the momentum

:06:49.:06:54.

with him right now, so he needs to keep that up. I will come back and

:06:55.:06:59.

talk to Alfie later on. There are so many people packed around Court 17,

:07:00.:07:04.

people trying to shove in to the odd seats that my despair and leaning

:07:05.:07:08.

over the walls at the back. And the large, large majority of them are

:07:09.:07:10.

supporting Gordon Reid. NICK MULLINS: The start of the

:07:11.:07:22.

second set and Stefan Olsson to serve first.

:07:23.:07:34.

Looking at some first stirred serve statistics from that first set,

:07:35.:07:48.

Olsson at 30%, Reid up at 60%. He has got to change that, quite

:07:49.:07:53.

simply. Gordon is just totally overpowering him. Gordon Reid has

:07:54.:08:01.

taken the initiative and he is just not giving Olsson any time to

:08:02.:08:02.

settle. That is not going to do Olsson any

:08:03.:08:42.

good, more free points to give Gordon more competence. --

:08:43.:08:45.

confidence. Olsson's service isn't getting any

:08:46.:09:10.

better. And right at the start of the second set, two more break

:09:11.:09:15.

points. Well, Olsson was on a bit of a hot streak this tournament and I

:09:16.:09:18.

just wonder if his little bubble has burst.

:09:19.:09:29.

And there is the break. Some muttering in Swedish from Stefan

:09:30.:09:37.

Olsson. He is feeling the frustration. Reid in charge.

:09:38.:09:43.

Yes, what Gordon has done is take the ball early on the first bounce,

:09:44.:09:49.

the ball is really coming through, so it is coming on to Olsson's

:09:50.:09:54.

racket really fast and he has not had the time to do anything with it.

:09:55.:09:59.

He is snatching a little bit. Going wide on the sidelines or double

:10:00.:10:04.

faults. I don't know what he is going to do to change it, but Gordon

:10:05.:10:09.

certainly doesn't need to change his game.

:10:10.:10:16.

Life, if you Gordon Reid, feels pretty good right now. It might feel

:10:17.:10:23.

even better in around half an hour. He is up by a set and a break.

:10:24.:10:46.

Wheelchair tennis, by the way, now plays a full part in all four of the

:10:47.:10:54.

sport's Grand Slams. Wimbledon was the last one to introduce doubles,

:10:55.:11:00.

for the first time in men back in 2004 and as singles for the first

:11:01.:11:01.

time this year. Once Gordon Reid and Stefan Olsson

:11:02.:11:33.

have completed their singles final, Britain's Jordanne Whiley and her

:11:34.:11:38.

partner Yui Kamiji will be on this Court Two play in the women's

:11:39.:11:41.

doubles. What a day for British wheelchair tennis.

:11:42.:11:55.

You can see Olsson just hit the ball with a bit more pace and it came

:11:56.:12:01.

through a bit more quickly on to Gordon's racket. Just over pulled it

:12:02.:12:03.

a little bit. Wonderful backhand return of serve

:12:04.:12:35.

by Olsson, that will give him a little bit of confidence, a bit of

:12:36.:12:37.

hope. Fantastic. It is brilliant from the

:12:38.:12:51.

Swede. Both players in search of their

:12:52.:13:07.

first ever Wimbledon singles title, the first time we have ever had a

:13:08.:13:13.

singles event here on grass. It is always a concern, Peter Norfolk,

:13:14.:13:17.

that as a singles player, you would find it too hard to zip around on

:13:18.:13:21.

this grass surface, which is a bit more like a carpet, much more

:13:22.:13:27.

friction. It is hard, but these guys are superfit, superfast. The chairs

:13:28.:13:30.

are specifically built for tennis and these surfaces. I was going to

:13:31.:13:36.

say they are used to it, they are not used to it, but they are super

:13:37.:13:41.

strong and they are not going to refuse playing singles at Wimbledon,

:13:42.:13:42.

that's for sure. I know Gordon Reid were saying

:13:43.:13:53.

before the event that there was some concern amongst the players about

:13:54.:13:56.

the quality they would be able to achieve on the grass in the Chair,

:13:57.:14:00.

but there have been no need for those concerns. It has been

:14:01.:14:04.

top-quality. Actually, one of the things he did

:14:05.:14:15.

in training was to have his coach holding him back with a bungee rope

:14:16.:14:19.

and he was having to work very hard to try and escape it. Absolutely,

:14:20.:14:24.

some of the new techniques coming in... It is getting off the mark on

:14:25.:14:30.

the grass and the clay, that is the hard part, that is where you need

:14:31.:14:33.

the strength. These guys are always working on different parts of their

:14:34.:14:40.

bodies to make them faster. Great shot there by Olsson. And there is

:14:41.:14:44.

also the technology of the chairs. It is not just your body, it is the

:14:45.:14:49.

equipment as well. You know, wheelchair sport is right up there

:14:50.:14:55.

now. It is all about achieving the best you can achieve. And the

:14:56.:14:57.

rewards are there. Oh, dear. Really? We will have a

:14:58.:15:12.

look at that. I think if we had the benefit of Harry Hawk-Eye on Court

:15:13.:15:16.

17, he might be being rolled out. I would have questioned that one.

:15:17.:15:22.

Might have been wrong again. Maybe. I still would have questioned it.

:15:23.:15:39.

His strap came undone them. Essential bits of agreement.

:15:40.:16:08.

-- essential bits of equipment. Got himself back in this game. It was

:16:09.:16:22.

the right shot, rifled backhand back behind the player.

:16:23.:16:30.

He has re-established the break of serve. Gordon Reid.

:16:31.:17:15.

He lost the use of his legs just before his 13th birthday, contracted

:17:16.:17:24.

transverse myelitis, the disease affecting the spinal-cord. He was

:17:25.:17:29.

completely paralysed for six months but has since regained some movement

:17:30.:17:32.

he began to play wheelchair tennis, initially to keep fit as well as

:17:33.:17:36.

anything, but it wasn't long before he realised he was pretty good and

:17:37.:17:43.

it is the outlet like this that allow people according to do what

:17:44.:17:47.

they are doing. That is the beauty of wheelchair tennis and any sport.

:17:48.:17:52.

It is about rehabilitation, recreation and performance.

:17:53.:17:57.

Generally as I did as well you start at the beginning, rehabilitation. We

:17:58.:18:04.

have it in spinal units. Part of the beautiful tennis is we try to get

:18:05.:18:10.

tennis chairs into tennis centres so anyone with any disability can

:18:11.:18:15.

comment. Wheelchair tennis has open categories. Men and women. That

:18:16.:18:22.

would be the great ambition to have sports chairs in every tennis club

:18:23.:18:29.

around the country. It is coming. This is the man flying the flight

:18:30.:18:33.

for British men's tennis right now. Gordon Reid.

:18:34.:18:57.

Fascinating press conference before the tournament started with

:18:58.:19:02.

accordingly and Jordanne Whiley talking about what wheelchair tennis

:19:03.:19:07.

had given them and what they hoped other disability sports might give

:19:08.:19:09.

others. That is brilliant. Jordanne had a

:19:10.:19:29.

really tough time when she was growing up. She was bullied, in and

:19:30.:19:35.

out of hospital, made it hard to form when ships and she found tennis

:19:36.:19:38.

which gave her the reason to believe in herself. -- made it hard to form

:19:39.:19:44.

friendships. She spoke eloquently and we will see her on court in her

:19:45.:19:52.

final in the next hour or so. Wheelchair tennis is a very enabling

:19:53.:19:59.

sport and it is a worldwide sport. Actually we all the of the family.

:20:00.:20:12.

Once again holding onto his first proving to be a tricky business have

:20:13.:20:21.

a moment. Two more break back points for Stephane Olsson. It is tough

:20:22.:20:33.

down there, heavy conditions, blustery. Not particularly pleasant

:20:34.:20:45.

on the grass. It is heavy going. There is a break back.

:20:46.:20:58.

Gordon's friends and family and supporters shouting out. McGavin

:20:59.:21:06.

queueing, varying over to watch this. Thing that is why they are

:21:07.:21:10.

going to try to keep them to these courts, speaking the kept -- keeping

:21:11.:21:14.

the spectacle open to as many people as possible. This is a fabulous but

:21:15.:21:21.

called for wheelchair tennis. Brilliant.

:21:22.:21:50.

Mike Dean are you have noticed but Olsson is struggling with the lower

:21:51.:21:59.

force. -- I do not know if you have noticed.

:22:00.:22:11.

Taking the wrong way. Shortfall. Gordon Reid came in. -- short wall.

:22:12.:22:23.

He sent Olsson the wrong way. Hafeez Hewett was talking to Clare

:22:24.:22:44.

Alfie Hewett was talking to Clare Balding about how well he disguises

:22:45.:22:51.

the shots, holding the ball on his racket before he commits. And when

:22:52.:22:55.

you play a lot of tennis you also know where the player is going by

:22:56.:23:00.

the chair, with your peripheral vision. I was never fast but I had

:23:01.:23:05.

good reaction. I was working out what was going to happen.

:23:06.:23:09.

That was a bit wayward. And once again it is becoming a theme of the

:23:10.:23:21.

second set. Another break of serve. At least two more opportunities for

:23:22.:23:23.

Gordon Reid to take the lead. Enjoying this wheelchair final in

:23:24.:24:07.

the company of the best ever quad tennis player down the years. Peter

:24:08.:24:20.

carried the flag for Britain. I have forgotten thing... You have been

:24:21.:24:26.

involved in the squad. Explain the difference. I started in the men's,

:24:27.:24:36.

two decades ago. Then I had according to me -- a codec

:24:37.:24:56.

to me -- I have a cordectomy, that meant I could play in the quads,

:24:57.:25:05.

three limbs affected. The standard is amazing. It is all about playing

:25:06.:25:15.

tennis. I played with Andy Lapthorne. It is all about being

:25:16.:25:25.

able to play. Would you mean by being released to play? Changing

:25:26.:25:33.

attitudes. It is about us saying we are able to play, the Gabba

:25:34.:25:42.

standard. It is very inclusive. Looking at Gordon and Andy Murray,

:25:43.:25:48.

the follow what we are doing. We are trying our hearts out and tennis is

:25:49.:25:53.

at the heart of it, we are tennis players. We are not disabled tennis

:25:54.:25:59.

post. Tennis is tennis. Sometimes we have two bounces and sometimes we

:26:00.:26:11.

don't. You sound like quad father. I get a bit passionate, sorry. There

:26:12.:26:23.

is no need to apologise. " Don't look at what we can't do, look at

:26:24.:26:31.

what we can do". It is about attitudes are changing. Things might

:26:32.:26:36.

take time. They are not going for another

:26:37.:26:53.

break, Amavi? Certainly not getting any easier to hold the serve. You

:26:54.:26:59.

can see the bank stops blustery and the aces...

:27:00.:27:17.

My word! Fabulous shot. Look at this.

:27:18.:27:32.

When Gordon went off you could hear his chair wheels fluttering, that

:27:33.:27:42.

means the chair is grabbing and not rolling properly.

:27:43.:28:04.

The standard that both of these players are achieving right now,

:28:05.:28:14.

having dropped his serve again, once again. Breaks back will stop

:28:15.:28:21.

Olsson's chair, they are allowed if they get a problem with the chair, a

:28:22.:28:29.

technical time-out. 15 minutes. They can get it repaired and sorted and

:28:30.:28:31.

back on board. We talked about how this sport is

:28:32.:29:05.

now pretty much 12 months around the world and around the year and when

:29:06.:29:13.

they are not onshore they will be busy training. Give us an idea of

:29:14.:29:17.

the con of work they would be doing in training? They will do all sorts.

:29:18.:29:29.

Crosscourt rules, chairs the, getting off the mark. It is the

:29:30.:29:37.

first push and then the next two fishes and about turn, you do it

:29:38.:29:41.

with and without the racket. There is lots of found training to keep

:29:42.:29:47.

supple because all of your power is upfront. -- band trainings. You need

:29:48.:29:58.

to watch out for rotator cuff problems of course.

:29:59.:30:07.

You can see what that meant. He needed that. Break by break he is

:30:08.:30:13.

getting closer and closer. Why is it so hard to hold onto your

:30:14.:30:24.

server right now when it didn't appear to be that difficult in the

:30:25.:30:29.

first set -- your server. There is a trend in singles, it has always been

:30:30.:30:35.

harder to hold your serve in singles. I am still working that one

:30:36.:30:43.

out. I was always happy to break serve to win a match. Gordon has now

:30:44.:30:49.

got to serve to go 5-3 and actually, I would have said that was a really

:30:50.:30:55.

good position to break Olsson and win the match. One I never actively

:30:56.:31:11.

created. Listen to the shouts of "G-O" around the court. His mum on

:31:12.:31:18.

the left, Alison, his dad, Graham, his brothers and sisters, Stephen,

:31:19.:31:23.

David and Emily and a whole band of supporters.

:31:24.:31:37.

Mustn't forget Olsson in all of this, the hugely talented

:31:38.:31:42.

all-rounder. Actually took some time away from tennis to represent the

:31:43.:31:48.

Swede at ice sledge hockey at the Paralympics.

:31:49.:31:53.

He is a brilliant all-rounder. You can't take it away from him, a

:31:54.:32:00.

fantastic athlete, someone who can go away from tennis and pop back in,

:32:01.:32:07.

14 or 15 months ago, now number seven in the world. What talent is

:32:08.:32:12.

that? Right now, he is up against the number three. He is working so

:32:13.:32:23.

hard this --, the Swede, to get himself back in this final.

:32:24.:32:29.

There we go. That is what Gordon was doing in the doubles. He saw Olsson

:32:30.:32:38.

racing back past the baseline and he just popped it back into the service

:32:39.:32:41.

box for a lovely little winner. Right. This is a real opportunity.

:32:42.:33:11.

Holds of serve have become like breaks of serve in this final and

:33:12.:33:17.

Reid has two points to hold onto his serve and move within a game of

:33:18.:33:18.

being champion. Oh, my word. Fantastic tit-for-tat.

:33:19.:33:43.

You have got to applaud both players. Outstanding. Look at this.

:33:44.:33:49.

He almost took the ball boy out. Commitment.

:33:50.:33:58.

There we go. Serve wide and banged it into the Open court. Look what

:33:59.:34:06.

that means to the crowd, and Gordon. Tennis's old one, too. It never

:34:07.:34:24.

fails. -- one, two. So what now for Stefan Olsson? He is

:34:25.:34:50.

not going away, is he? Serving to stay in this final.

:34:51.:35:18.

Gordon tried a cheeky drop shot from behind the baseline. Almost came

:35:19.:35:22.

off. That won't do Olsson's hopes any

:35:23.:35:45.

good. That a double fault on the previous

:35:46.:36:13.

point could be costly for Olsson. You could see Olsson got bogged down

:36:14.:37:11.

there, he was trying to get his chair moving. Gordon hit the ball

:37:12.:37:15.

back behind him. Good ploy. UMPIRE: New balls, please. Olsson

:37:16.:38:10.

has played a brilliant game, all the pressure on him to win it and stay

:38:11.:38:20.

in the final. I feel so nervous. I was remembering back to Athens, when

:38:21.:38:24.

I won my first gold medal, in a massive stadium, it was huge, and I

:38:25.:38:30.

remember having to serve for it and I know I said it is easier to break

:38:31.:38:35.

to win, but I was serving and all I could do was focus and say, one

:38:36.:38:40.

point, this point, and little mantra. And I never looked up at the

:38:41.:38:45.

crowd, didn't do anything and when I hit the last shot and the ball left

:38:46.:38:48.

my strings, I knew immediately that was it. It wasn't the fact that I

:38:49.:38:54.

had won, it was the relief of a four-year programme. I know I am

:38:55.:39:05.

still a cynic, but let's see. I remember commentating on you that

:39:06.:39:09.

day, you didn't make it easy on any of us, not just you. What a moment

:39:10.:39:15.

of Gordon Reid. ?25,000 for the winner. These next few minutes will

:39:16.:39:20.

mean much, much more than that. Serving to become Wimbledon

:39:21.:39:20.

champion. You were shaking your head, Peter.

:39:21.:39:49.

You liked that? This is the most difficult time in the match and that

:39:50.:39:53.

is good strength and confidence from Gordon. Good nerves.

:39:54.:40:04.

Just got to be aware of that little slice by Olsson, he really gives it

:40:05.:40:13.

some pace, so it skims off the surface.

:40:14.:40:57.

How about that? It has gone long. Two points away. The longest point,

:40:58.:41:10.

the longest rally, I think they have had.

:41:11.:41:33.

There are some people watching this who can scarcely believe it. He can

:41:34.:41:53.

believe it. He is serving for the championship.

:41:54.:42:15.

It is easy to do that. It is so easy. I so feel for Reid at the

:42:16.:42:21.

moment. Game, set and match, Reid! Wimbledon

:42:22.:42:45.

champion. Wimbledon champion. The first ever Wimbledon singles

:42:46.:42:50.

champion, Scotland's Gordon Reid. They're best at Wimbledon on wheels.

:42:51.:42:58.

One of the best in the world -- the best at Wimbledon on wheels. What a

:42:59.:43:04.

feeling, you are a champion. Fantastic. Unbelievable, well done.

:43:05.:43:11.

Look at that. He is celebrating. Singles and doubles champion. Wow,

:43:12.:43:17.

wow, wow. This is just historic, brilliant. And the first person to

:43:18.:43:25.

congratulate him, his coach Karen Ross, who has been with him. Along,

:43:26.:43:30.

since he took up the sport as a teenager. Helped introduce him to

:43:31.:43:35.

the sport and look where it has taken him. And he has done as

:43:36.:43:39.

Serena, he has won the singles and the doubles. His mum is going to

:43:40.:43:49.

cry. And his friends, who have been with him from the start, some

:43:50.:43:53.

friends who were with him the morning he woke up and his legs

:43:54.:43:59.

didn't feel quite right and not long later, he was in hospital for six

:44:00.:44:03.

months, paralysed. They have been with him through the whole story and

:44:04.:44:11.

this is just the best final line. What a story. What a story. It is

:44:12.:44:17.

just brilliant. What a Sunday. Is it Super Sunday? Well, one Scot has

:44:18.:44:26.

started the day with a Wimbledon title... Andy Murray will be

:44:27.:44:37.

watching this, I am sure, somewhere. The job for him is to emulate this.

:44:38.:44:41.

Jordanne Whiley on court as well in a while or so, Heather Watson in the

:44:42.:44:47.

Mixed Doubles as well. This could be a very, very special day for British

:44:48.:44:50.

tennis. It already is for Gordon Reid.

:44:51.:45:02.

If put this into perspective for wheelchair tennis and this ability

:45:03.:45:08.

sport in this country. I am not sure I can. How big is Wimbledon,

:45:09.:45:16.

worldwide tennis? We now have a double British winner, singles and

:45:17.:45:23.

doubles. It is unheard of. I am not sure we can put it into words. I

:45:24.:45:29.

think this is a fabulous foundation for youngsters and everyone. Look at

:45:30.:45:35.

British tennis. Whoever said British tennis was not in a good play

:45:36.:45:39.

scratch mark I feel for Olsson, I have been there. It is the worst

:45:40.:45:45.

place to be, sat and waiting while everybody else is celebrating.

:45:46.:46:00.

Please welcome to the court for this presentation Jeff Newton. Firstly,

:46:01.:46:12.

this year's runner up, from Sweden, Stephane Olsson. CHEERING

:46:13.:46:40.

And now, the 20 16th, and indeed, first ever wheelchair tennis singles

:46:41.:46:52.

Wimbledon champion, from Great Britain, Gordon Reid! CHEERING

:46:53.:47:29.

Gordon Reid, double Wimbledon champion having taken the doubles

:47:30.:47:33.

yesterday. Many congratulations, your immediate response to becoming

:47:34.:47:37.

the first ever singles champion here? LAUGHTER

:47:38.:47:46.

It is incredible. To have the opportunity to play singles here is

:47:47.:47:49.

something I have dreams of for a long time. It is amazing. To come

:47:50.:47:54.

here and win in front of the people I love, my friends and families, my

:47:55.:47:59.

coaching team, and so much support, it is unbelievable. I am never going

:48:00.:48:05.

to forget this moment. CHEERING It is a moment none of them will

:48:06.:48:09.

ever forget, none of the people leaning over trying to get a view

:48:10.:48:14.

here, none of the people on Henman Hill, nobody will forget this. You

:48:15.:48:23.

have started the trend, the Alice band army. How many people have you

:48:24.:48:33.

got watching? A big thanks to the LTA and player services for helping

:48:34.:48:37.

me out with 50 tickets to get everybody in! It is a wonderful

:48:38.:48:44.

moment for you and your friends and families both in terms of a broader

:48:45.:48:47.

message how do you hope this will inspire kids and adults watching?

:48:48.:48:54.

Reset and the start of the week that I wanted to get two things this

:48:55.:48:59.

week, the first thing was if there were any kids with disabilities like

:49:00.:49:04.

I was at one stage, if this can inspire them to take up tennis or

:49:05.:49:07.

another sport then that is really important. The second thing is to

:49:08.:49:11.

continue to breaking down barriers when it comes to disability and

:49:12.:49:16.

showcase the personality and high-performance sport, not a

:49:17.:49:20.

disability. With the amount of coverage this week and the amount of

:49:21.:49:23.

interest and the weight people have enjoyed passport, it has been a big

:49:24.:49:29.

milestone and hopefully we can build on that. Very well spoken. With that

:49:30.:49:38.

in mind, a word on Stephane Olsson, who pushed you so hard. Yes, I have

:49:39.:49:47.

to say a big congratulations to Stephane, he has played... APPLAUSE

:49:48.:49:55.

He has played some really great tennis and had some big wins this

:49:56.:49:59.

week. He made it really difficult for me today. I am sure Stephane

:50:00.:50:04.

more than a lot of players has been waiting for singles on grass because

:50:05.:50:07.

he has the game for it I am not sure it is not the last time we see him

:50:08.:50:11.

in the final here. Hopefully we can have more battles in the future. It

:50:12.:50:17.

was a terrific final, we hugely involved and an Gordon, many

:50:18.:50:21.

congratulations. You have made history today. Thank you very much,

:50:22.:50:23.

thank you, everybody. The number of photographers flooding

:50:24.:50:48.

the court, who had to switch ends because Gordon went up to the

:50:49.:50:52.

windier end to serve for the Championships and for the title, his

:50:53.:50:57.

band of supporters singing his song, which ends up with the line about

:50:58.:51:06.

becoming Wimbledon champion. They obviously came up with the lyrics a

:51:07.:51:13.

while back. Their prediction has country. He has indeed won the

:51:14.:51:18.

Wimbledon singles title. Yesterday he took the doubles. And run

:51:19.:51:26.

appeared to get a quick from his doubles partner to see Gordon take

:51:27.:51:36.

the singles trophy. It is a special day for him, many congratulations to

:51:37.:51:40.

Gordon. He has worked very hard for it and now he has made a lot of

:51:41.:51:48.

sacrifices. Training at Roehampton on the grass, to make himself best

:51:49.:51:51.

prepared for this tournament and it has clearly shown and it has all

:51:52.:51:57.

played off. I hope he enjoys the celebrations now. Alfie, how much

:51:58.:52:04.

does it make you want to be here in singles XJ and an all British final?

:52:05.:52:10.

Definitely, being here today, I cannot imagine what the atmosphere

:52:11.:52:13.

would be like if it was the British final. I cannot take anything away

:52:14.:52:17.

from Gordon, he has two enjoy his moment and he deserves all the

:52:18.:52:21.

praise he gets. And Jordanne Whiley is about to come out for the final

:52:22.:52:26.

of the women's doubles, her father is here, keep what are you thinking?

:52:27.:52:33.

I am sure she can do it. Is she in good form, calm, excited? She was

:52:34.:52:39.

very calm today, she is on for it. Fantastic stuff, there will be a big

:52:40.:52:43.

crowd around supporting her because Gordon Read the first of four

:52:44.:52:48.

British players in finals action today. -- Gordon Reid. Andy Murray

:52:49.:52:53.

walking out on Centre Court at 2pm, Heather Watson following that in the

:52:54.:52:58.

Mixed Doubles final. Gordon Reid has won the wheelchair tennis tingles

:52:59.:53:02.

and your Dan Wylie shortly coming out to play her doubles final. --

:53:03.:53:07.

and Jordanne Whiley. A bit of uncertainty and rain throwing us

:53:08.:53:13.

into doubt, and getting everybody going for the covers but in the end

:53:14.:53:17.

a sensational final and Gordon Reid showed great determination and

:53:18.:53:23.

talent and incredible strength under pressure to hold serve, to serve it

:53:24.:53:27.

out and take the title. We were talking yesterday and he was so well

:53:28.:53:32.

aware that there is only one ever first Wimbledon wheelchair tennis

:53:33.:53:37.

singles champion and he has ensured he has taken a title for Great

:53:38.:53:41.

Britain and Scotland for his and friends. His family, and most of all

:53:42.:53:47.

he has done it himself. He is a terrific athlete and great sportsman

:53:48.:53:50.

and let's hope his friend Andy Murray can follow up, coverage

:53:51.:53:58.

starting at 1pm on BC one. From us, thereby. -- 1pm on BBC One.

:53:59.:54:01.

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