11 July 2019
Lapthorne makes Wimbledon history with quad doubles triumph
Andy Lapthorne is living the dream, safe in the knowledge that his name will forever be etched into the annals of Wimbledon history after he and partner Dylan Alcott became the All England Club’s first-ever quad doubles champions.
The duo won the inaugural final 6-2 7-6 (7-4) against opponents Koji Sugeno and David Wagner, with a packed home crowd cheering London native Lapthorne on throughout on court 14.
After a successful exhibition showing at last year’s Championships, the All England Club fully incorporated the quad doubles into this year’s programme, and triple Paralympic medallist Lapthorne was still pinching himself.
After years spent watching Wimbledon as a child, he can now call himself a champion.
“It’s amazing. To be here in the first place was a massive achievement. It’s taken a lot of time and effort,” he said.
“To come here and play doubles with Dylan, a good mate of mine, and to be the first-ever doubles team to be up on that board means everything to me.
“The atmosphere was amazing. The stadium was full to the brim, people queuing to get in from the outside.
“This sport has come so far since I started playing and the British fans always come out and support – we saw that in London 2012 amd they changed the game when it comes to Paralympic sport.
“Hopefully, there’s some people at home with a disability who have watched that and are inspired to come and play wheelchair tennis or any Paralympic sport.”
But Lapthorne’s stint at the All England Club is not yet over for 2019, with the chance to claim yet another historic first in the quad singles final.
And it will be a familiar face who will this time be lining up on the other side of the net, as Alcott – the man who beat Lapthorne to Rio gold – turns foe for Saturday’s showpiece.
“It’s chaotic when we play sometimes,” he continued.
“We bounce off each other. We’re similar personalities and I just think it’s good fun.
“To get to play the best player in the world at Wimbledon after four months out injured is a great opportunity for me and something that I’m going to embrace.
“I really enjoyed it and am going to go out there and try my best in the singles, and hopefully it’s good enough, but I’m just enjoying being at Wimbledon.
“I wish I could play here every day of the year. Whatever happens in the singles, I’m happy.”
Join the ParalympicsGB movement
Join
The ParalympicsGB movement
We may include relevant updates from our trusted partners, but will never sell your data on. We take your privacy seriously and you can opt out at any time Privacy Policy
Related News
30 December 2022
Geoff Newton awarded OBE in King's New Year's Honours
3 September 2021
Whiley and Shuker win third Paralympic medal as a pair after doubles silver
3 September 2021
Jordanne Whiley: Singles bronze is the happiest moment of my life
2 September 2021
Gold-medal match a "dream come true" for Whiley and Shuker
1 September 2021
Hewett and Reid close in as Lapthorne and Cotterill miss out
30 August 2021
Reid and Hewett eyeing Rio revenge after reaching wheelchair tennis final
30 August 2021
Reid, Hewett and Whiley move closer to wheelchair tennis medals
28 August 2021
Whiley and Shuker move closer to wheelchair tennis medal after comfortable win
28 August 2021
Whiley up and running with fine opening wheelchair tennis victory
27 August 2021