Melbourne, Jan 31 (NationPress) Japanese sensation Tokito Oda etched his name in the record books by clinching the 2026 Australian Open men’s wheelchair championship against Martin De la Puente, winning with scores of 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. This remarkable achievement makes him the youngest individual to hold all four Grand Slam titles simultaneously across any professional tennis category.

At just 19 years of age, Oda’s victory against the third seed at Melbourne Park positions him as the second athlete in history to secure four consecutive men’s wheelchair singles majors, following in the footsteps of the legendary Shingo Kunieda, who astonishingly claimed 12 titles in a row starting in 2007.

With this win, Oda has claimed his second Australian Open title and eighth major title overall, now just two titles shy of Britain’s Alfie Hewett. Established as the world No.1, Oda is poised to challenge Kunieda’s record of 28 men’s wheelchair singles Grand Slam titles.

“To start, I must say, I missed you, baby. I want to express my gratitude to Martin. You are my best friend on tour. We always hang out, and your Japanese is so funny. This is our first time sharing a Grand Slam final. I’m delighted to have played against Martin. Big congrats to your team,” Oda humorously acknowledged his first trophy won in 2024 before turning his attention back to De la Puente.

Additionally, Oda triumphed in the doubles event, partnering with Argentinian Gustavo Fernandez for his second Grand Slam doubles victory.

“Thank you all, I truly appreciate your love … I hope you continue to support wheelchair tennis. Thank you so much,” he expressed.

The championship match began with De la Puente taking a 3-1 lead in the first set, just before the first rain delay of the day. Although Oda managed to catch up briefly, the Spaniard retaliated strongly, resulting in Oda losing his first set of the tournament.

Oda elevated his performance significantly in the second set, moving swiftly to reach balls and returning them deep into the corners, applying heavy spin to push De la Puente out of position.

After a lengthy rain delay, Oda regained his composure under the Margaret Court Arena roof, clinching the title with 52 winners compared to De la Puente’s 31. He also won 74 percent of his first-serve points, vastly exceeding his opponent’s 51 percent.

This match marked the 18th encounter between the two, their sixth at a Grand Slam, and their inaugural final showdown.

De la Puente aimed to become the 13th player to win a men’s wheelchair singles Grand Slam title, having previously lost to Hewett in the 2024 Wimbledon final. Despite his disappointment, the Spaniard graciously accepted the outcome, smiling through the moment.

“Congrats, Tokito, we’ve known you since you were nearly a kid; you’ve been dominating everyone on tour … you are a true champion. Thank you to my team; they have pushed me a lot, especially during a tough Christmas. My team, family, and girl have all been supportive. I look forward to another battle next year,” De la Puente reflected after the loss.

Beyond his victory at Melbourne Park in 2024, Oda was also the runner-up to Hewett in 2023 and 2025. He has now amassed 41 singles titles before even turning 20.

As the Australian Open commemorates 50 years of wheelchair tennis, Oda’s ascent serves as a powerful testament to the sport’s evolution and its bright future.