Beyond the Glory: Kaito Oda’s Unstoppable Rise in Wheelchair Tennis

The 18-year-old, who has achieved many great achievements as the youngest player in history, ended his “first chapter” in the best possible way by becoming the youngest ever champion in this summer’s big stage, wheelchair tennis. What kind of story do you have in mind for the new chapter? (Original title:[18 Years Old Who Changes the World]Gaito Oda “Unique Self-Expression”)

The cheers were so loud that they had to raise their voices even though they were talking cheek to cheek. The curtain has come down on the men’s wheelchair tennis singles final at the Paris Paralympic Games. Gaito Oda was exchanging words with the defeated Alfie Hewett. The Côte Philippe Chatrier, which has a capacity of 15,000 people, is swollen with spectators. It is extremely unusual for a stadium of this size to be filled to capacity for wheelchair tennis. Hewett’s words barely reached Oda’s ears.

“We created this space. We accomplished something amazing. It will go down in the history of wheelchair tennis.”

“I wanted to do it with my first hand,” he said, stretching out on the red clay court with his wheelchair.

The final was a fierce battle. The drama began in the final set, with Oda at 3-5. If he loses one more match point to Hewett, Oda’s hopes will disappear. However, the opponent’s drop shot broke the line. Oda held his ground and turned the match around.

Oda threw down his racket and spun his wheelchair as if dancing. Then, do something that no one would have ever imagined. The wheels came off and the wheelchair fell down. By stretching out on the red clay court, I wonder if he is imitating Rafael Nadal, the 14-time champion of the French Open, which will be held at the same venue as Roland Garros. However, no wheelchair athlete had ever expressed their joy in this way. “I wanted to be the first to do it with my hands.” Oda laughed. He said he had thought about it in advance, even up until the point where he collapsed. But he didn’t expect Hewett to pick up the wheel and help him get up. Then, the two exchanged heated words.

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