Tennis Australia's boss has hit back at criticism of the decision to shift Dylan Alcott's late night Aus Open quad final triumph.
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.
“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).”
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 ðŸ†ðŸ‡¦ðŸ‡º@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.”
Boy, it's been another big night of tennis.
And in a few hours fans will be back at the Australian Open!
Dylan Alcott is Australian Open champion, again, and Stefanos Tsitsipas pulled off one of the great wins in the tournament's long history.
Recap it all below.
Plus, we'll have all the reaction from Alcott's win above soon.
Thanks for following throughout the night and enjoy the Open if you've got tickets for today's play!
Dylan Alcott's incredible winning streak stretches to seven successive Australian Open titles with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Sam Schroder.
Alcott won his first Australian Open title in 2015 and has not been conquered at Melbourne Park since!
What a record for the Aussie ace.
12:00am – Victorian Lockdown Ends
— Insert Sport Here Podcast (@Insert_Sport) February 17, 2021
12:24 am – @DylanAlcott wins SEVENTH #AusOpen and can get out to a pub in Melbourne with friends to celebrate!
Not a more appropriate way for the state to get #backonthebeers 🤣
He lost the first game of this match but Dylan Alcott has been unstoppable since then.
He won the first set 6-1 and leads 5-0 in the second.
Here's some of what Stefanos Tsitsipas had to say on court after his five-set triumph.
"I'm speechless. I have no words."@steftsitsipas | #AO2021 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/pSfC4671Nd
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 17, 2021
Dylan Alcott strung together six consecutive games after being broken in the first set of his final, taking the first set 6-1.
Title seven in Melbourne is within reach now.
Rafael Nadal has been beaten for the first time ever at an Australian Open after leading by two sets.
That is one of the greatest comebacks in Australian Open history.
Tsitsipas seals it 7-5 in the fifth.
Lucky lockdown is almost over because I could use a stiff drink after that.
Tsitsipas. “I don’t know what happened after the 3rd set. I was flying like a little bird”.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) February 17, 2021
Federer (Miami, 2005)
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 17, 2021
Fognini (US Open, 2015)
Tsitsipas (Australian Open, 2021)
Nadal is beaten from 2 sets up for only the *third* time in his career 😧@steftsitsipas #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/hYOxTCOdZK
I'm lost for words.
Nadal is broken and is facing his first loss ever at the Australian Open from two sets to love up.
Tsitsipas leads 5-4 in the fifth and will serve for the match.
Incredible serving again from Tsitsipas who makes it 5-5 in the fifth!
Nadal got to 40-30 but he produced a stunning crosscourt forehand to level again.
I'm running out of superlatives to describe these two.
Dylan Alcott has completely turned his final around after being broken in the opening game and leads 3-1!
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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/tennis/inside-ashs-plans-for-a-dominant-2021/live-coverage/ca705b143aa92e5160ddc2754c4d211e