Dylan Alcott wins Australian Open Wheelchair tennis final, beating Andy Lapthorne

Dylan Alcott reveals how his devastating US open loss in 2019 helped him bounce back to win his sixth straight Australian Open title.

Australian Open Day 13. 01/02/2020. Mens wheelchair final. Dylan Alcott vs Andy Lapthorne on Rod Laver Arena. Australian Dylan Alcott kisses the winners trophy. Pic: Michael Klein

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From hating tennis to a sixth-straight Australian Open, Dylan Alcott has kicked off what could be one of the biggest years of his life with a bang.

But “not a million” beers.

The Australian star claimed his 10th grand slam - his sixth on home soil – with a 6-0 6-4 win in the wheelchair quad final over British rival Andy Lapthorne yesterday, just over four months since Lapthorne demolished the Melburnian at the US Open.

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Dylan Alcott has won a sixth-straight Australian Open men’s wheelchair final. Picture: Michael Klein.

A lot has changed.

“It feels awesome,” Alcott said.

“I really stuffed up the US Open. I was pretty devastated, like gutted, hated myself, hated tennis a bit.

“I really worked hard on myself since then. New mindset coach, new strength trainer, just really working on everything, obviously being a Paralympic year and things.

“The first set, best tennis I ever played.”

And the win wasn’t just for him, with $40,000 donated to assist those with disabilities who have been affected by the bushfires.

The figure was boosted after a little fudging by Alcott, who joked that despite his one ace – worth some $800 including donations by sponsors – “let’s say I served nine” to take the total tally for the tournament to 50.

Novak Djokovic congratulates and hugs Alcott after beating Britains's Andy Lapthorne. Picture: AFP.

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“Obviously all Australians losing their houses and things like that, if you magnify that and times that by having a disability where you then have to retrofit your house again and all that, it’s pretty gnarly,” he said.

Alcott – who is eyeing a berth at the Paralympics in Tokyo in August – has also all but ditched the booze in an effort to be at his peak in 2020.

“I’ll have a beer, just not a million,” he said.

“It’s going to last till after Tokyo, then it’s as many beers as you can possibly drink hopefully. It’s such a big year, so I’m looking after myself.”