'I'm gutted' Runners up honours for Norfolk wheelchair star Alfie Hewett in Wimbledon singles final

Alfie Hewett in action against Shingo Kunieda Credit: PA

Wheelchair tennis ace Alfie Hewett has brought his 2022 Wimbledon campaign to a heartbreaking end.

The 24-year-old from Norfolk was within touching distance of victory on four occasions but failed to serve out and eventually suffered a 4-6 7-5 7-6 (5) defeat by Japan's Shingo Kunieda in a tense and thrilling match which came down to the narrowest of margins.

Speaking after the game, which lasted nearly 3 and a half hours in blistering heat, the British wheelchair number one admitted it hurt.

"I'm gutted, that one's going to sting for a while. I'm just ready for a break."

Crowds packed into court 3 to watch Alfie Hewett go for his sixth successive singles title. Credit: PA

However he praised the fact wheelchair tennis was played on court number one.

"I want to say congrats to Shingo and his team, I know of the thousands of grand slams you have won, this was one you hadn't got.

"You didn't give me a break and we both wanted the win but you are one of the greatest wheelchair players of all time and deserve it."

Kunieda was equally gracious. He said: "My dream came true. Thank you Alfie too, you have more years than me and you will win here in the future."

His defeat comes after he and fellow Brit Gordon Reid saw their record-breaking sequence of 10 Grand Slam doubles titles in a row come to an end on Saturday after losing to Gustavo Fernandez of Argentina and Shingo Kunieda.