Team GB's 'kings of clay' reach doubles final in Paris

Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid can empathise with that quote available in every tacky souvenir shop here - that Paris is always a good idea.

- JAMES TONEY

Playing together on the red clay of Roland Garros they are unbeaten in five years, a run of dominance they've not matched in other slams.

A partisan crowd on Suzanne Lenglen did their best to will the opposite but they booked their place in the Paralympic wheelchair men’s doubles final with a 6-4 6-3 victory over French fourth seeds Frederic Cattaneo and Stephane Houdet.

Between them the British pair have won 25 grand slam doubles titles, including seven wins here in the French capital but they’ve lost the last two Paralympic finals when red-hot favourites and it stings.

Houdet – with former partner Nicolas Peifer – had Hewett and Reid’s measure in both those matches, revenge duly served cold with Japan’s Takuya Miki and Tokito Oda, the No 2 seeds, now awaiting in the final.

“It was electric in there, we’re used to the crowd being for us but I just loved it and thrived in that atmosphere,” said Hewett, who is part of Aldi’s Nearest and Dearest programme in partnership with ParalympicsGB, helping to maximise support and minimise potential distractions for athletes so that they can focus on their performance.

“It was just a feeling of relief against him [Houdet], you do carry a bit of trauma when you’ve lost two Paralympic finals against the same player.

“We’ve played Takuya and Tokito a lot in recent slams and we know what to expect, they are very dangerous opponents. They are a very well-drilled and motivated team.