Guy Sassoon won Roland Garros in wheelchair tennis: “Dedicated to the released hostages”

The wheelchair tennis player Guy Sassoon won the prestigious Roland Garros tournament today (Saturday), after a 2:6, 6:3, 6:7 (7:10) victory over the Dutchman Sam Schroeder in the final match in the quad category. Later, Sasson competed for the doubles title together with his British partner Andy Lapthorne, but they lost 2:0 against the Dutch pair Vink and Schroeder.

This is the first Grand Slam title for the 44-year-old Sassoon. The Israeli competed in the final against the Dutch Schroeder ranked 2nd in the world and won after two hours and forty nine minutes. Sasson won the first set with a score of 2:6, lost the second set 6:3 and after a 6:6 tie in the third set, the match went into a tiebreaker which Sasson won.

A first Grand Slam title on his Roland-Garros debut!

Guy Sasson defeats Sam Schroder 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(7) for the Quad Wheelchair Singles title.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/4Vzo6PI7pr

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2024

In the quad category (more severe handicap), only the top eight ranked in the world qualify for the Roland Garros tournament. Sassoon, ranked third in the world, beat Heath Davidson from Australia in the quarterfinals 0:6, 2:6. In the semi-finals Sasson met the world’s first ranked Dutchman Nils Wink, whom he defeated 2:6, 3:6.

In the doubles tournament, Sasson and his British partner Andy Lapthorn opened the tournament in the semi-finals, where they defeated the Canadian Robert Shaw and David Wagner 2:6, 6:3 and 10:2. As mentioned, later today they will compete for the doubles title against the strong Dutch duo.

Sasson said in his winning speech: “I’m very happy, I want to thank all my team that gave me strength throughout this tournament, an amazing feeling. I hope the crowd enjoyed the battle that was here today, I hope a lot of people will come to tennis in wheelchairs. I dedicate the victory to my country And to the hostages who were released today, the nation of Israel lives.”

Sasson injured his spine in a skiing accident in 2015. At the beginning of his career in the industry, he played in the category of skiing, a relatively mild handicap. When his physical condition worsened he was classified as a quad player, which is the more severe degree of disability.