Schroder wins fourth consecutive Australian Open quad singles title

Sam Schroder won his fourth straight quad singles title at the Australian Open 27 Jan 2025
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A male wheelchair tennis player reaches to return a shot
Schroder won both the quad singles and doubles titles at the Australian Open
ⒸGraham Denholm/Getty Images
By ITF and IPC

Sam Schroder has won his fourth consecutive quad singles title at the Australian Open after defeating fellow Dutch player Niels Vink in straight sets. Japan’s Yui Kamiji won the women’s singles title and Great Britain’s Alfie Hewett won the men’s title at Melbourne Park.

Schroder came from behind in the first set before winning the match 7-6 (7), 7-5. After sealing the win in 1 hour and 45 minutes, he put both hands across his face to let the victory sink in and wipe away the tears.

“It’s very special for me to once again having won a tournament. After the first one, you want the second one. Unbelievable to have won the fourth one. It’s really crazy when I think about it. I think winning a grand slam (tournament) is always very special,” Schroder said.

“I made a few too many errors in the beginning. I always know there will be a point where I will start to get back in the match. There are a lot of matches where I’m down in the beginning, and I find my way into it. 

“Once I’m locked in, I stay there kind of. From experience I know I just have to stay relaxed, stay calm, keep trying to find ways to get back into it.” 

Schroder said it is also essential to play a tight final to showcase the sport to more people worldwide. 

“There are millions of people all over the world who have some form of a disability. I hope it’s really empowering for them to see what we can do in the chair. That’s why I want to be able to show a high level like this today.” 

A day after winning the quad doubles tournament, Schroder pulled off a straight-set victory Vink. @Graham Denholm/Getty Images

 

Kamiji wins ninth Grand Slam title 

Yui Kamiji won her first Grand Slam women’s singles title since 2020 with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Aniek van Koot of the Netherlands. Kamiji, who won two gold medals at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, won the opening four games at Melbourne Park before sealing the victory in 1 hour, 16 minutes. 

Kamiji captured her first Australian Open singles title since 2020. @Graham Denholm/Getty Images

 

With the victory, Kamiji now has a 49-21 record against the Dutch star. Speaking at a post-match press conference, the Japanese four-time Paralympian said she developed “new ideas” on how to play against van Koot, given their long rivalry. 

“I’m really happy. It’s my third title at the Australian Open,” Kamiji said. “Always (van Koot) pushed me so well, and she has passion and power. But I’m happy with my performance in the end today. 

“We really know each other, and we both are left-handed so, I’m always trying to change some things, which I can’t tell you.

“Every Grand Slam win is special for me. Most of the time in the last few years, I could make the final but couldn’t win the title,” she said. “It was always challenging for me and I’m really happy.”

The defending champion Diede de Groot was absent due to injury, and this was the first Grand Slam wheelchair women’s singles final not to feature the Dutch player since the French Open in 2020. 

 

Hewett snaps losing streak against Oda 

Former world No. 1, Britain’s Hewett, has been usurped by Tokito Oda in the men’s wheelchair singles over the past two years, but no more. 

Before Saturday’s match, Oda led Hewett 3-1 in Grand Slam finals - and 10-8 overall - including last year’s AO. He had also won their previous five matches in all competitions. It has been some hold. 

Hewett, though, was immense in the last match on Kia Arena, winning 6-4, 6-4 in 96 minutes. So emotional was he that the tears flowed within seconds of shaking hands. 

Hewett won a singles match against Oda for the first time since May 2024. @Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

 

“I didn’t expect me to start blubbering on the court but I’m probably harbouring a few feelings from the last couple of matches that we’ve played,” Hewett said. 

“Obviously, they’ve been pretty big ones with them being in Slam finals and the Paralympic final. It does knock you deep down, your sort of belief in the confidence in the big moments. For me to do it today and prove to myself more than anyone that I can rise to the occasion against a player like him, it was very overwhelming.”

 

Miranda and Cooper claim inaugural Australian Open Junior titles 

A week after winning the Melbourne Wheelchair Open, 17-year-old Vitoria Miranda of Brazil won the first Australian Open junior title by beating the USA’s Sabina Czauz 0-6, 6-3, 7-6(4). Charlie Cooper - also a winner of the 2025 Melbourne Wheelchair Open junior title - became the inaugural Australian Open junior wheelchair boys’ champion, defeating Alexander Lantermann 6-2 6-2 in 55 minutes.