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.
Denne historien er fra September 05, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra September 05, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Fierce rivalry in best British flyweight fight for decades
This time last year, Sunny Edwards was on his way to the USA for a unification world title fight, and Galal Yafai was a five-fight novice.
Wiegman faces twin issues in tactical battle with Hayes
Sarina Wiegman had already highlighted where England need to improve long before Emma Hayes and the United States landed in London ahead of today's marquee clash at Wembley.
Crisis at City has shades of Mourinho's Bridge too far
For all the comments on Pep Guardiola's scratches, some senior figures in football were a bit shocked by the image.
Our favourite brands are at risk from changing demand
Constantly evolving consumer habits are threatening even the biggest names - factor in a competitive marketplace and rising overheads, and they're goners, says Chris Blackhurst
Insurgents fighting Assad's Syrian regime enter Aleppo
Surprise offensive is first time city is attacked since 2016
Macron praises those who helped rebuild Notre-Dame
President visits cathedral as it prepares to reopen next week
Three main Irish parties set for election photo finish
Sinn Fein, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are virtually neck-and-neck in terms of first preference votes in the Irish general election, according to an exit poll last night.
Ukraine could cede land for peace deal, says Zelensky
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has suggested he would temporarily cede Ukrainian territory to Russia in exchange for joining Nato.
Russia suffers record 2,000 losses in one day, says Kyiv
Claims of unprecedented military casualties for Moscow come as Putin’s forces make advances in eastern Ukraine
Police name mother killed in hit-and-run e-bike crash
A young mother who was killed after she was knocked off an ebike in a hit-and-run crash has been named.
