By Tom Degun

September 9 - Britain’s world number one quad wheelchair tennis player Peter Norfolk (pictured) began the defence of his US Open in style as he claimed a comprehensive 6-2 6-2 victory over Sweden’s Johan Andersson in the first of his three round-robin matches at Flushing Meadows, New York.



The 49-year-old, nicknamed the "Quadfather", continued the impressive form that saw him claim the USTA Wheelchair Tennis Championships in St Louis, Missouri, last week as he brushed Andersson aside.

Norfolk began confidently, winning the first three points of the match on his own serve, only to see Andersson come back to deuce and then have a game point of his own. 

However, Norfolk held on to clinch the game before breaking Andersson for the loss of just one point.

After Andersson won the third game, Norfolk dominated the rest the opening set, holding his own serve to love to open up a 4-1 lead and then converting the third of three set points two games later.

Norfolk again secured the early breakthrough in the second set as he eased into a 3-1 lead and served the third of his four aces in the match to set up two points for a 4-1 lead. 

But Andersson managed to save both points before breaking back. 

It was the Swede, though, who faltered in the next game after having two chances to level at 3-3 and Norfolk re-established a cushion before comfortably holding his serve to move within a game of victory.

Anderssson’s one and only ace of the match came as he served to stay in the contest, but Norfolk kept his composure and went on to wrap up victory in 58 minutes. 

The two-time Paralympic champion said: "I’m very pleased to get the first match under my belt and beat Johan, as he was the last player to beat me back in April before I took my paternity leave ahead of the birth of Evie in July.

"The wind was a bit more manageable today than it was yesterday and I am looking forward to my next match."

Norfolk will now face world number four Nick Taylor in his second match after Taylor lost 6-1 6-0 to fellow American and world number two David Wagner in the day’s other quad singles match.

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