Both Houdet and Hewett needed a win to prolong their stay at the season-ending event and it was the Frenchman who prevailed, securing a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 triumph to knock his opponent out of the tournament.

Houdet, who won the competition back in 2011, trailed 6-4, 2-0 but was able to turn the crucial match on its head to seal second place in Pool One.

Defending champion Joachim Gerard of Belgium had already booked his place in the last four yesterday and ended the group stage with another victory as he swept aside Houdet's team-mate Nicolas Peifer 6-2, 6-1.

"Alfie is the future - no doubt," said Houdet. 

"He lost this match - I didn’t really win it and that’s an issue for me (looking to the next match).

"I knew I just had to keep on fighting and I knew until the last point I still had a chance."

Hewett admitted the defeat was "soul destroying" as a semi-final spot was "in my hands".

Sweden's Stefan Olsson progressed from Pool Two as he beat Argentina's Gustavo Fernandez 6-2, 6-3.

Olsson finished behind Rio 2016 Paralympic Games gold medallist Gordon Reid of Britain, whose 6-1, 6-2 win against Dutchman Maikel Scheffers ensured he completed the first phase of the tournament with a 100 per cent record.

Reid will entertain Houdet tomorrow, while Gerard faces Olsson.

In the women's singles, three berths in the last four were up for grabs on the final day of pool play, with Japan's Yui Kamiji the only guaranteed semi-finalist.

Paralympic champion Jiske Griffioen of The Netherlands maintained her bid to defend her title by battling to a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Lucy Shuker of Britain in Pool One.

Griffioen's compatriot Marjolein Buis also made it through as fellow Dutch player Aniek van Koot withdrew from their contest through injury when trailing 6-4.

The third semi-final spot was sealed by Diede de Groot, who was not in action today as a result of Britain's Jordanne Whiley pulling out of the tournament.

Kamiji will clash with Buis in the semi-finals, while the second last four contest will be an all-Dutch affair between De Groot and Griffioen.

In the quad singles event, Itay Erenlib breezed to a commanding victory over Israeli team-mate Shraga Weinberg to follow already-qualified Australian David Wagner into the semi-finals.

Erenlib dropped just two games on his way to a 6-2, 6-0 success to clinch second place in Pool One.

Kyu-Seung Kim of South Korea and Antony Cotterill of Britain were both bidding for the second semi-final spot in Pool Two - behind home favourite and group winner Andy Lapthorne, who had assured himself of progressing to the next round yesterday.

The South Korean proved too strong on this occasion, setting up a meeting with Wagner thanks to recording a 7-5, 6-3 triumph.

The other semi-final will be between Lapthorne and Erenlib.