Hewett wins all-British first-round tie at Wimbledon

Two-time Wimbledon wheelchair singles finalist Alfie Hewett made a winning start to his 2024 campaign as he defeated fellow Briton Ben Bartram.

Hewett, 26, who lost in the final in both 2022 and 2023, gained a comfortable 6-1 6-4 win over his 18-year-old opponent.

Bartram made a dream start on his Wimbledon debut by breaking the Hewett serve in the first game of the match, but Hewett fought back to win all six of the remaining games in the opening set.

He then broke the Bartram serve immediately in set two, before gaining a double break in the fifth game as Bartram’s sliced backhand drifted wide.

A fine cross-court winner gave Bartram one of the breaks back, before the pair exchanged breaks but Hewett then served out the win, sealing victory with an ace.

Hewett will play 53-year-old Frenchman Stephane Houdet, a three-time Wimbledon semi-finalist, in the quarter-finals.

The wheelchair events finally began on Wednesday after rain had caused Tuesday's scheduled matches to be postponed.

Britain's Gordon Reid, the 2016 champion, takes on Argentina's Gustavo Fernandez, the third seed, on court 14.

Then it is the women's turn with reigning champion and top seed Diede de Groot, who is aiming for a sixth Wimbledon singles title, playing Momoko Ohtani of Japan before Britain's Lucy Shuker faces Kgothatso Montjane of South Africa.

If the weather allows, the quad wheelchair singles quarter-finals will take place on Wednesday, with Britain's Andy Lapthorne up against American David Wagner.