Ben Weekes and Anderson Parker produced a formidable efficiency within the males’s wheelchair doubles occasion on the Paris 2024 Paralympic Video games.
Paris, France, 1 September 2024 | Leigh Rogers
Though Australia’s wheelchair tennis marketing campaign on the Paris 2024 Paralympic Video games has come to an finish, Anderson Parker and Ben Weekes are happy with their efficiency.
The Brazilian mixture of Gustavo Carneiro Silva and Daniel Rodrigues edged out a 7-5 2-6 [10-8] victory towards the Australian pair in an exciting first-round encounter within the males’s wheelchair doubles occasion.
“I’m proud we each went on the market and gave it our all, sadly it wasn’t sufficient right now,” Parker mentioned.
The 26-year-old Parker described the gang at Roland Garros because the loudest he has ever performed in entrance of.
“It was an incredible expertise,” he mentioned. “I simply want much more folks might see our match, as a result of it reveals what Australia can do and what wheelchair tennis is.”
The 39-year-old Weekes agreed, noting his greatest motivation is showcasing wheelchair tennis to extra followers and provoking the subsequent era.
“It sucks that we misplaced, [it was] so shut, however it was truly a extremely good efficiency from each groups,” he mentioned. “The ambiance was superb. It was us towards one another on the courtroom, however it was additionally the gang towards one another. Even in the direction of the tip, it was standing room solely.”
The vocal crowd was handled to a see-sawing battle, which nearly culminated with a late Australian comeback.
The Brazilian duo raced forward 8-3 within the deciding match tiebreak, earlier than holding off the spirited late cost from Parker and Weekes.
“We didn’t get the perfect begin within the tiebreak however we managed to get ourselves again into the match,” Weekes mentioned.
“Actually, we might nonetheless be on this match if we gained one [more] level right here or there.”
Weekes labelled it their “finest match as a group” and acknowledged it was a optimistic option to end his sixth Paralympic Video games marketing campaign.
“I feel in our singles we have been each in all probability a bit disenchanted,” he mentioned.
“[But] I can say after tonight that I had my finest match and I’m proud that I bought to point out that. If it’s my final Video games, and I’m not saying it’s, I could be proud to complete with that match.”
Parker and Weekes had been aiming to win Australia’s first Paralympic medal within the males’s wheelchair doubles occasion since Anthony Bonaccurso and David Corridor claimed bronze at Athens 2004.
Aussies in motion – Paralympic Video games
RESULTS
Males’s wheelchair doubles, first spherical
Gustavo Carneiro Silva/Daniel Rodrigues (BRA) d Anderson Parker/Ben Weekes (AUS) 7-5 2-6 [10-8]
> VIEW: Paris 2024 Paralympic Video games wheelchair tennis attracts
Discover your option to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on courtroom and have some enjoyable!
