Shingo Kunieda equalled the record for Grand Slam titles by winning the Australian Open ©Getty Images

Japanese star Shingo Kunieda equalled Esther Vergeer's record for Grand Slam wheelchair titles with victory over Gordon Reid of Britain in the men's singles final at the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Kunieda beat Reid 6-4, 6-4 to clinch his 44th Grand Slam crown and draw level with Dutch legend Vergeer.

The triumph for the Japanese player, a double Paralympic Games singles gold medallist, also handed him a 10th Australian Open title.

"Esther is the best player in wheelchair tennis, so it is a big honour to equal the Grand Slam titles,” Kunieda, the world number one and top seed, said.

"This is a big victory because I couldn't win a Grand Slam."

Yui Kamiji completed a Japanese double with victory in the women's singles final ©Getty Images
Yui Kamiji completed a Japanese double with victory in the women's singles final ©Getty Images

Kunieda added: "Now my age is 35, and my rivals are very young.

"Sometimes I was feeling I don't have any more chance win a Grand Slam. 

"Today I could win, so I’m very happy."

Kunieda's compatriot Yui Kamiji clinched the women's singles crown after defeating Aniek van Koot of The Netherlands 6-2, 6-2.

Kamiji, winner of the 2017 Australian Open, produced a dominant display to seal her seventh Grand Slam title.

"I think it's very important because normally if someone won this title, then the player is very good whole year," Kamiji said.

"I feel something like that."