Dylan Alcott wins seventh Australian Open, hints at retirement, amid scheduling uproar

Tennis Australia's boss has hit back at criticism of the decision to shift Dylan Alcott's late night Aus Open quad final triumph.

Dylan Alcott dominated his Australian Open quad final. Picture: Getty Images

Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley has shot down criticism of the decision to shift Wednesday night’s Australian Open wheelchair final from Rod Laver Arena to Margaret Court Arena.

Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley has shot down criticism of the decision to shift Wednesday night’s Australian Open wheelchair final from Rod Laver Arena to Margaret Court Arena.

Aussie legend Dylan Alcott wrapped up another Aus Open quad title, well after midnight, after the Rafael Nadal-Stefanos Tsitsipas five-set epic.

“It was the plan,” Tiley said on SEN.

“We said all along that if the (Nadal-Tstitsipas) match, either way, after four sets, he (Alcott) would go on.

Dylan Alcott dominated his Australian Open quad final. Picture: Getty Images

“In this case, Tsitsipas won the last two sets, so, at the end of the fourth set, they were tied two sets apiece so a fifth set was going to played on RLA and Dylan didn’t want to go on too late.

“We agreed and he agreed that we’d move it on to Margaret Court Arena, which is a great arena. Keep in mind, it’s a broadcast-only event, so does not really matter when it comes to crowds, because there were no crowds."

Tiley said Alcott agreed to the move once the men’s match went into a fifth set and was excited to be playing in the evening.

“The people that are writing (negative stories) about the scheduling don’t understand the agreements," Tiley said.

"There’s always missing information, sometimes in that it was very clear.

“We always had the wheelchair finals scheduled on Wednesday, because the wheelchairs finished three days early because of COVID.

“In fact, we originally had it Wednesday afternoon, but that’s not primetime and there were no fans, so we decided to change it to prime time, which Dylan was very excited about that.

“If it went on too late, less people would watch it, so that’s why we just moved the court so we had a chance to go straight to Dylan’s match (after Nadal-Tsitsipas).”

Dylan Alcott is all smiles after his stunning win. Picture: Getty Images

SEVENTH HEAVEN, BUT WHAT NEXT FOR AUSSIE GREAT?

It may be seven Australian Open quad wheelchair singles titles and out for the incomparable Dylan Alcott.

Australia’s world No.1 left the door ajar for an assault on an eighth consecutive title, but hinted this year’s Tokyo Paralympic Games – assuming the event goes ahead – might be a fitting farewell.

Alcott won his latest Australian Open championship in a cakewalk, dropping Wednesday night’s opening game before rattling off the next 12 to defeat Dutchman Sam Schroder 6-1 6-0.

Schroder denied him winning a third US Open title in September, but he’s avenged that defeat three times, including in last year’s French Open semi-finals, and swelled his grand slam title haul to 12.

He’s also won two French Opens, two US Opens and one Wimbledon crown.

The final was bumped from Rod Laver Arena to Margaret Court Arena, as the five-set Rafael Nadal-Stefanos Tsitsipas cliffhanger extended beyond four hours.

There were discussions earlier on Wednesday about rescheduling to Thursday, so the match could be played in front of a crowd, but it wasn’t possible because of broadcast arrangements.

The arena switch left Alcott a bit miffed.

“Look, I was in a bit of a mood when I got out there. My real purpose in life is not winning grand slams,” he said.

“It's actually changing the perception of people with disabilities, so they can get out there and live the lives they want to live. One thing that inspires me is broadcast and all this kind of stuff.

“Because it went so late and we got a court change, I was a bit flat, you know what I mean?

“I lost that first game and was like, ‘Oh, no, I'm in trouble here’, then I actually channelled that into the tennis ball … I would play on the carpark at 3am, as long as I got an opportunity to play the Australian Open.”

 

Another one 🏆🇦🇺@DylanAlcott claims his SEVENTH #AusOpen Championship! 👏 #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/P5AphGDjxJ

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 17, 2021

Alcott’s singles triumph follows him winning a fourth doubles championship in a row, partnering countryman Heath Davidson to a 6-2 3-6 (10-7) victory over Brit Andy Lapthorne and American David Wagner.

That goes with his multiple Paralympic gold medals in tennis and basketball, a tally he hopes to add to in Japan this year.

“I was just saying, ‘Get yourself to the 2020 Paralympics’, then that got postponed (last year),” Alcott said.

“That's why I struggled and played so poorly at the US Open, because that's when the Paralympics should have been. I was like, this sucks, right? I just want to get to the Paralympic Games.

“I think, ‘No crowds, bit of a weird day’. I was like, ‘I think I have to do one more AO’ – but I might hit that last ball at the Paralympic Games and be like, ‘I'm done’.

“It's cliché, but you know when you know. I know I'm getting close. It’s not because I've lost the passion to play tennis but I do TV, radio, I've got my foundation, a couple of companies.

“I do so many things, right? It adds up and there's only so long you can spin all the plates for. I want to do some acting, I want to write a script. I want to do all kinds of stuff.”

Originally published as Dylan Alcott wins seventh Australian Open, hints at retirement, amid scheduling uproar

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