By Paul Osborne

Great British wheelchair tennis stars secured more titles than athletes from any other nation over the 2014 season ©Getty ImagesBritish wheelchair tennis stars have claimed more titles in 2014 than athletes from any other nation, year-ending figures have shown.

Throughout the year players from Great Britain picked up a remarkable 80 titles across the seven tiers of international competition on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) calendar.

They not only finished top for total number of events won, but also won more doubles, ITF 1 and junior titles than any other country.

Leading the way was British number one women's singles and doubles star Jordanne Whiley.

At just 22-years-old Whiley became the first British athlete to win the historic calendar year Grand Slam after partnering Japan's Yui Kamiji to win the women's doubles at all four majors.

The feat left her second only to Kamiji in terms of overall number of women's singles and doubles titles won during 2014 with an impressive 13.

Fellow Britons Lucy Shuker and Louise Hunt were just behind their team mate with nine titles apiece.

"It's been an incredible year for me personally and the whole of British wheelchair tennis," said Whiley.

"I've had an amazing year winning the doubles calendar Grand Slam and huge thanks have to go to all my coaches and support staff, as well as the Tennis Foundation and UK Sport.

"I'm looking forward to 2015 and am aiming for even more success with a particular focus on my singles game as I build on a successful end to 2014 after finishing third at the NEC Masters."

Jordanne Whiley became the first British wheelchair tennis star to complete a calendar year Grand Slam after partnering Yui Kamiji to all four Grand Slam titles in 2014 ©Getty ImagesJordanne Whiley became the first British wheelchair tennis star to complete a calendar year Grand Slam after partnering Yui Kamiji to all four Grand Slam titles in 2014 ©Getty Images



On the men's side, world junior number one Alfie Hewett was the most successful men's player numerically, picking up 12 singles and doubles titles in 2014, leaving him third behind 16-time Grand Slam Champion Stephane Houdet from France and recent NEC Masters champion Shingo Kunieda.

Gordon Reid has continued to challenge the top order of men's wheelchair tennis, moving to wolrd number one in a season that saw him capture 10 international titles.

The Tennis Scotland International Player of the Year secured his first Super Series title at the Sydney International Open, where his semi-final win over Japan's Kunieda saw him become the only player to beat the world number one during 2014.

Including Whiley's four Grand Slam titles, Great British athletes end the season with six Grand Slam wins to their name with Andy Lapthorne securing the Australian Open quad doubles title alongside the United States' David Wagner, as well as the US Open singles title.

In total, 18 British athletes on the Tennis Foundation's Wheelchair Tennis Performance Programme competed international for the nation, building up an impressive repertoire of titles that should place them in a strong standing as they pursue Rio 2016 Paralympic qualification next year.

"It's been an exceptional year for British wheelchair tennis, with many highlights," said Geraint Richards, the Tennis Foundation's head of disability player performance.

"Behind each player's success there is a large team of individual coaches, Tennis Foundation colleagues and much wider support staff, as well as the invaluable support our whole programme has from UK Sport through National Lottery funding.

"As we go into 2015 I hope that our players continue to inspire with their performances and we can get more and more players playing wheelchair tennis and realising their potential."

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