By James Crook

160079044January 27 - Shingo Kunieda overcame number one seed Stephand Houdet of France 6-2, 6-0 to win his sixth wheelchair tennis Australian Open title in Melbourne, dropping just one set in the whole tournament.


Kunieda came through a difficult tie against current holder Maikel Scheffers of Holland, winning 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, before defeating Swede Stefan Olsson 6-2, 6-0 in the semi-final.

The Japanese player won five consecutive Australian Open titles between 2007 and 2011, but his run ended when he was forced to pull-out of the 2012 event due to injury.

Kunieda regains the world number one singles rankings after his win in Melbourne, removing Houdet from the position.

160079088Shingo Kunieda (right) receives his winners trophy after defeating Stephane Houdet (left)

Along with his single win, the 28-year-old won the doubles event with Frenchman Michael Jeremiasz, defeating Olsson and his Australian partner Adam Kellerman 6-0, 6-1.

In the women's event, Dutchwoman Aniek Van Koot defeated German number two seed Sabine Ellerbrock 6-1, 1-6, 7-5 in an eventful final.

160076972Aniek Van Koot (right) defeated Sabine Ellerbrock (left) in the final of the women's wheelchair tennis Australian Open

The 22-year-old also overcame South African Kgothatso Montjane 6-1, 7-5 and compatriot Marjoleine Buis in the semi-final 1-6, 7-6, 6-3 to win her first Australian Open title.

Van Koot also won the doubles event with Dutch partner Jiske Griffioen, defeating Buis again with her partner British number one Lucy Shuker.

In the men's quad event, American David Wagner came from a set down to win in the final against British player Andrew Lapthorne, winning 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.

160074462American David Wagner (right) won the singles and doubles in the quad event, with Briton Andrew Lapthorne (left) finishing runner-up in both events

Wagner also took victory in the doubles, defeating Lapthorne and his partner Anders Hard of Sweden with his compatriot Nicholas Taylor, winning 6-2, 6-3.

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