Great Britain’s Gordon Reid earned a place in Wimbledon history by reaching the inaugural first men’s singles wheelchair final.
Wheelchair tennis has been a feature of the tournament since 2001, but only doubles has been contested until this year, and left-hander Reid put himself one win away from the title by beating Belgian second seed Joachim Gerard.
The Glasgow-based 24-year-old earned a 7-6 (11/9) 6-4 victory on Court 17, sealing his victory when Gerard flicked a backhand over the baseline.
Reid began the year by landing the Australian Open singles title, and followed up by reaching last month’s French Open final where he lost to Gustavo Fernandez of Argentina.
In his third grand slam singles final of the year, the Scot will tackle Swede Stefan Olsson who upset veteran French top seed Stephane Houdet, winning 3-6 6-3 6-3.
Prize-money of £150,000 has been put up for the wheelchair singles, with the champions of the men’s and women’s events each receiving £25,000.
Reid contracted transverse myelitis – a disease affecting the spinal chord – aged 12 and wondered if he would ever be able to pick up a racket again, but has established a thriving sporting career as he bids to join fellow Scots Andy Murray and Jamie Murray as Wimbledon champions.
