History made at Wheelchair Doubles Masters

“We will play together again and bid to defend our title at Roland Garros and here. I am very pleased with the win today and it shows the work I have done over the past four weeks has worked.”

France’s Stephane Houdet etched his name into the record books by becoming the first player to win the men’s title for three consecutive years at the 2014 UNIQLO Wheelchair Doubles Masters in Mission Veijo, California, USA, on 9 November.

Along with Belgium’s Joachim Gerard – who was partnering Houdet for the first time at this competition – the top seeds beat France’s Michael Jeremiasz and Great Britain’s Gordon Reid in straight sets (6-4, 6-1) to claim the title.

The victory meant the pairing added the Doubles Masters title to their Roland Garros crown, and stretched their unbeaten run together to 16 games.

Houdet had previously won the Wheelchair Doubles Masters title with Japan’s Shingo Kunieda in 2012, before repeating his success with Reid in 2013.

“Our serves were important today. In the second set we didn't lose our serve at all,” Houdet told the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

With Gerard adding: “We will play together again and bid to defend our title at Roland Garros and here. I am very pleased with the win today and it shows the work I have done over the past four weeks has worked.”

Third place went to Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez and France’s Nicolas Piefer as they defeated Kunieda and South Africa’s Evans Maripa in comfortable fashion (6-1, 6-1).

History was also made in the quad competition, as the top seeds, the USA’s David Wagner and Nick Taylor, claimed an eighth Doubles Masters title.

They were pushed to three sets by Great Britain’s Jamie Burdekin but the Paralympic gold medallists held their nerve to wrap up a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory.

The USA’s Greg Hasterok and Great Britain’s Antony Cotterill finished third, beating the USA’s David Buck and Italy’s Antonio Raffaele over three sets (6-4, 4-6, 6-2).

Japan’s Yui Kamiji and Great Britain’s Jordanne Whiley capped an incredible 2014 by winning the women’s title.

The pairing, who became the first non-Dutch athletes to win the calendar year of Grand Slam doubles titles, survived an earlier scare in the competition to retain their women’s Doubles Masters title.

They beat Great Britain’s Louise Hunt and Germany’s Katharina Kruger in the final in straight sets (6-2, 6-1).

“After winning all four Grand Slams this year this was a big one for us, but we wanted to make sure we ended on a high and we want to replicate it next year,” said Whiley to the ITF. “We will play together next year at the Grand Slams. We are still learning and improving.”

The Netherlands’ Marjolein Buis and Michaela Spaanstra, who beat Kamiji and Whiley earlier in the competition, took third place after defeating Germany’s Sabine Ellerbrock and Great Britain’s Lucy Shuker in straight sets (6-0, 6-4).

For more information, visit the ITF website.