Gordon Reid aims for singles success after US Open triumph

After creating history by winning all four wheelchair Grand Slam doubles titles in the same year, Gordon Reid says he is now targeting more singles success and hopes to be world number one again.

Reid has returned to Scotland after a busy few weeks that saw him win silver and bronze medals at the Tokyo Paralympics before he and doubles partner Alfie Hewitt won the US Open to complete a remarkable achievement.

The 29-year-old told STV the back-to-back competitions had been draining but that he was proud of his success in New York.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” Reid said. “It’s been a great couple of trips being out in Tokyo and then straight on to New York.

“Pretty exhausting and I’m really tired but I’m happy with the way it’s gone.

“A calendar Grand Slam is not the kind of thing you think about until the time comes around. Me and Alfie have put in a lot of hard work over the last two or three years especially and we’re glad it paid off.

“It’s something we’re really proud of.”

Reid said that he had fallen short of his dreams in Japan but that the disappointment had helped spur him on to victory in the US Open.

“Obviously I was going out there to win a couple of golds and we didn’t quite make it but I’m still really proud of the two medals,” he said. “The competition is higher than it’s ever been in wheelchair tennis so to be on the podium twice is a good achievement.

“We were still feeling a bit of regret and it was an emotional week out in Tokyo. So we were feeling the effects of that a little bit in New York. But there was still a big goal to achieve and plenty of motivation to get on court and do it there.”

A change to classifications means that Hewitt won’t be able to partner Reid from now on unless rules change, so the Scot faces a new chapter in his career after recent success. But he says he still has plenty to keep him motivated – including a move up from number four in the singles rankings and another tilt at the titles that have eluded him so far.

Reid, whose last major singles success was in 2016, said: “I think there’s still plenty that I’ve not achieved yet and still lots of improving to do. That’s the thing that keeps me driven the most.

“It’s also an exciting time to be a part of wheelchair tennis. The sport’s growing and gaining more and more publicity every big tournament and hopefully I can add to the entertainment.

“I would love to get back to number one ranking. I’ve not won the French Open or the US Open in singles, so I would love to be able to polish off those to and have the set of grand slam wins.

“I just want to keep improving and hopefully there’s more to come after that.”