Stephane Houdet defeats Maikel Scheffers in final – NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters
In the clash of the trophy, Frenchman Stephane Houdet defeated Dutchman Maikel Scheffers in straight sets of 6-4, 7-6 (2) to clinch the title of the Men’s Singles NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters on hard courts of the Heiveld Tennis Centre in
Mechelen, Belgium.
It was an extremely entertaining and thrilling match as the 40 year-old Frenchman played a commendable opening set. It was the double faults that kept flowing from the 29 year-old Dutchman that gave a 4-2 lead to the world number
3 Houdet in the sixth game. However, the two matched a blow for a blow and bagged their respective serves. Eventually in the tenth game Houdet managed to secure the opening set with a 6-4 victory and took the competitive edge over his adversary.
During the second set, after an exchange of deuces in the third and fourth games, Houdet capitalized on the first break to lead 3-1 as the crowd was in an awe at the standard of tennis and competition from both players. Houdet
maintained the pressure on his adversary and further extended his lead to 4-1 at the end of the fifth game.
However, Scheffers took a notch higher on his serve and smashed a huge forehand winner with geometric precision. The Dutchman also capitalized on a breakpoint along with a hold of serve, he reduced his deficit to 3-4 at the end
of the seventh game. Scheffers had the advantage to level the scores and managed to do so in the eighth game as Houdet’s backhand drop shot landed out it resulted in the score levelling at four games each.
Scheffers took the lead for the first time in the set at 5-4 as an increasing number of errors crept into Houdet’s game. However, in the next game the Frenchman’s serve forced a few errors from Scheffers and once again the score
was balanced out at five games. Ultimately in the following two games the score shoved into a tie breaker as each player once more held their respective serves.
During the tiebreaker, Scheffers bagged his first serve but Houdet gained the first breakthrough as he smashed a backhand winner down the line to eventually take the lead at 3-1 at the end of the fourth point. Houdet’s penetrating
serve was proving to be a reliable weapon and with a series of breaks and hold he rushed past his adversary to clinch the tiebreaker at 7-2.
After bagging the set Houdet said “It is a very special day for me, as I have Spanish friends, one young lady who helped save my life after my accident and also friends from the French club I play for, in the crowd, so I am very
happy I could win in front of all of them.”
The world number three managed to accomplish the title of the Men’s Singles NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters after his victory and wrapped up this year’s season.
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