13 July 2018
Wimbledon triumph 'best of my career', says emotional Lapthorne
Andy Lapthorne’s lifelong dream has become a reality, with his name now emblazoned forever as a champion on the Wimbledon honours board.
Lapthorne and American David Wagner beat Australian Dylan Alcott and Lucas Sithole of South Africa in the first quads wheelchair doubles match at SW19.
A boisterous Court 3 crowd yelled their fervent support for the four players, with home hero Lapthorne, a five-time Australian Open doubles champion and triple Paralympic medallist, getting a stream of compliments from the stands.
Andy Lapthorne and David Wagner triumphed in the Court 3 clash
While the historic clash was an exhibition on paper rather than a Grand Slam, an emotional Lapthorne hailed the 6-2 6-3 triumph as the greatest moment of a career already glittering with titles.
“It’s up there,” said 27-year-old Lapthorne, who also won the US Open singles title in 2014 and the doubles three years later. “It might have been an exhibition but this tops absolutely everything in my career.
“I’ve won Grand Slams in New York and Australia, but this is very special and something that I’ve strived for for ten years.
It might have been an exhibition but this tops absolutely everything in my career
“It’s just amazing, I just don’t really know what to say and I’m trying not to cry to be honest!
“It’s what dreams are made of. It’s something that I have campaigned for for a very long time – for it to actually become a reality was very special and I enjoyed every second.
“It’s always important to win and be the first two names up on the honours board is amazing. It’s special and I am just lost for words.
“It was a really special day, everything I dreamed of and more – just an amazing experience.”
David Wagner, Andy Lapthorne, Dylan Alcott and Lucas Sithole at start of play
The double Paralympic silver medallist also revealed his hope of a Wimbledon quads singles rematch with Alcott after the pair faced off at Australia’s Rod Laver Arena last year, with the support firmly in the Melbourne man’s camp.
But Lapthorne and Wagner were superior on the day in this pioneering encounter, with the American equally passionate about his maiden appearance at the All England Club.
“It’s a great honour just to be on this court, pushing on grass and showing it can happen,” said Wagner. “We work hard, we train hard and this is part of what we wanted.
“It’s great playing with Andy, it’s such a great honour to be here, I didn’t think it would ever happen and it has and I didn’t think we let anybody down.”
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