World No.1 men’s wheelchair singles player Shingo Kunieda pulled off a Houdini act by surviving two match points against him to claim his fourth successive Australian Open men’s wheelchair singles title on Saturday.
Kunieda escaped the stranglehold of Frenchman Stephane Houdet to win 7-6(3) 2-6 7-5.
Houdet, the world No. 2 men’s wheelchair singles player, was forced to again settle for the runner-up trophy at the Australian Open after being beaten by Kunieda in the 2009 final.
Houdet broke Kunieda in the first game of the match as the players tested each other out at a hot Margaret Court Arena. But Kunieda and Houdet were in no doubt about the strengths of each other’s games, having teamed up the previous day to win the men’s wheelchair doubles championship.
It was only the second tournament for the formidable Kunieda/Houdet doubles combination, and after victory the previous day, the Japanese said it had been hard to come out and play against Houdet. “He was a very good partner for me. But as an opponent, he was better,” he said.
From the start, Kunieda played an attacking return of serve game – moving in early and often against the Houdet serve. Meanwhile, Houdet used slower, deeper balls to give him time to recover between shots. The feisty Kunieda managed to snatch back the break and level the set at 3-3.
The match continued with skilful exchanges, Kunieda using his serve-volley tactics to good effect, Houdet using angles and lobs to counter.
At 5-5, Kunieda’s serve failed him, two double-faults leading to a break. After the match, he said he had not played the best. “Especially my serve. Many double faults. And I can’t believe now I could win.”
He said his double faults were a result of an injury in the latter part of 2009. “After the US Open, I had tennis elbow. So three months rest.” After resuming training this year, Kunieda had been unable to hit a lot of balls and had a lack of confidence in his serve.
Down 5-6, Kunieda hit three winners in the next game to break back and force a tie-breaker.
Houdet appeared frustrated as his shots began to miss the lines, and a double-fault from the Frenchman gave the first set to the reigning champion.
In the second set, Houdet’s cross-court backhand began to fire. Serving at 2-3, Kunieda was unable to save a third break-point. On his own serve in the next game, Houdet screamed as he stretched to make a sharply-angled passing shot and move ahead 5-2.
Houdet continued to place the ball out of the crowd favourite’s reach, and broke again to take the set 6-3.
In the third set, Kunieda’s serve continued to falter, and an upset victory looked on the cards.
Both players had trouble holding serve, with four breaks in the first four games. Kunieda was desperately trying to increase his intensity to finish off the match, but in the process managed to shank several straight-forward strokes. 5-4, three cross-court winners from Houdet brought up a couple of match points. Again the Frenchman was unable to seize the day. A desperate Kunieda spun his wheels to stay in the match, much to the crowd’s delight.
A disheartened Houdet then had his serve broken. At 5-6, the Frenchman had two chances to break back – again Kunieda escaped Houdet before serving out the match.
Accepting the runners-up trophy, a tired but happy Houdet said he had enjoyed the match and hoped the audience had also enjoyed it. “A big congrats to Shingo – especially after being down 4-5, 15-40.”
Kunieda was equally gracious, thanking his friend for a great match. “Maybe Roland Garros for that match again?” he quipped.
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