Reid seeks to complete career Grand Slam in 2017

The bar is set high for wheelchair tennis player Gordon Reid after a very successful 2016 which saw him won the Australian Open and Wimbledon singles titles, and the gold medal at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

But far from feeling lack of motivation, the British player is training hard ahead of his big goal for the year: to complete the career Grand Slam by claiming the Roland Garros and US Open singles titles.

“I'm more focusing on my performances rather than trying to win specific events,” he explained. “However, it would be amazing if I could complete the full set of singles and doubles Grand Slam titles with just Roland Garros and the US Open singles titles left to win.”

Reid sealed his first Grand Slam title in 2015, when he won the doubles in partnership with Japan’s Shingo Kunieda at Roland Garros. The 25-year-old joined forces with France’s Stephane Houdet to win the US Open that same year.

In 2016, he won his first Wimbledon doubles title alongside British player Alfie Hewett. Reid completed his set of doubles Grand Slams titles in 2017, when he claimed the Australian Open with Belgium’s Joachim Gerard.

“2016 was an unbelievable year for my tennis career; incredible,” he said.

“I think I surprised everybody including myself with my consistency of results and performances at the big events.

“There were many unforgettable moments last year. But I think the one that sticks out the most was being on the podium in Rio, receiving my gold medal and hearing the national anthem with a lot of my close friends and family in the stands.

“That was an emotional moment.”

This season, Reid has so far won one singles and two doubles titles, but he is hungry for more.

“For me, the way to build on last year's success is to strive to keep improving myself as a tennis player and as an athlete,” he said. “If I can keep working hard to improve my game, the results should follow.

“I think most of the time the only pressure I feel is the pressure I put on myself. Last year is in the past now and it is important to take confidence from the results of 2016, but also look towards the future and trying to challenge myself with new goals.”