Australian tennis great offers hope to battle weary Victorians exiting lockdown

Victorians are recovering from one of the most difficult periods in the state’s history, but one tennis star has some serious advice about overcoming adversity.

Dylan Alcott will retire after the Australian Open. Picture: Elsa/Getty Images

Tennis star Dylan Alcott is the perfect person to inspire and lift the spirits of Victorians as the state comes out of two years of continuous lockdowns, according to 3AW host Neil Mitchell.

The wheelchair tennis champion, who has been named Victoria’s Australian of the Year for 2022, has become the first player to win a “Golden Slam” – all four Grand Slams and Paralympic Gold in one year.

Alcott told 3AW that he “bloody loves Victoria” and was a proud Melburnian.

The tennis legend said his own experiences with the adversity of living in a wheelchair could guide Melburnians to overcome one of the hardest periods in the state’s history.

Melbourne has become one of the world’s most locked-down cities over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, with residents spending more than 250 days in lockdown.

“It’s our decisions, not our conditions, that determine the life we live,” Alcott said.

“We are all going through some stuff right now, that’s for sure, but we’re coming out the other side.”

Alcott told 3AW that he ‘bloody loves Victoria’ and was a proud Melburnian. Picture: Elsa/Getty Images

Melbourne has become one of the world’s most locked-down cities over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

But Alcott said he hadn’t always found it so easy to be positive in the face of adversity, noting he used to despise living with a disability.

“I really used to hate myself, to be honest,” he said.

“I hated my disability.”

Alcott will aim for a 24th and last Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January after announcing he will retire following the event on Tuesday.

The seven-time Australian Open winner is the most successful quad tennis player of all time.

He’s won 15 Grand Slam singles titles and eight doubles titles.

Along with his “Golden Slam”, Alcott also won Paralympics Gold in 2008 and silver in 2012 with the Australian Rollers basketball team before winning double quad tennis gold in singles and doubles in Rio.

“I feel like I’ve done everything I need to do on the tennis court. I’ve known this day was coming for a while,” Alcott said on Tuesday morning.

“I’m super proud and probably more proud of the work we’ve done off the court to be honest.

The last dance 🇦🇺 🏆 🙌 @DylanAlcott has officially announced his retirement and will play his final tournament at #AO2022.

One last ride for the 7x #AusOpen singles champion. pic.twitter.com/zadSwoREGm

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) November 9, 2021

Ending on the ultimate note 💙@DylanAlcott will contest his final professional tournament at AO2022.

With 23 Grand Slam titles and a Golden Slam in a stunning 2021 season, it’s been a spectacular career for the long-time world No.1.

You’ve done us proud, Dylan! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/fNKbD8ORkF

— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) November 9, 2021

“Being a good tennis player is probably the 32nd priority of my life and I mean that. Being a good person is No. 1, a good family member, a good friend, a good partner to my partner Chantelle and being a good advocate for my community to change perceptions for people like me so they can live the lives they deserve to live and get the opportunities that I’ve had. I’m so lucky.”

Alcott had flagged that the end was near, saying after his US Open win in September that “I don‘t know if I’ll be back here”.

He’ll retire having won all four major titles in both singles and doubles but said his career was about more than the title he’d won.

“I often actually forget how many slams I’ve won because it’s not my purpose,” he said.

“My purpose is changing perceptions for people with disability to live better lives. If I’ve played a very, very small role in that, then I’ve done what I need to do.”

DYLAN ALCOTT BY THE NUMBERS

Career-high singles ranking: World No. 1 (first achieved in June 2015)

Career-high doubles ranking: World No. 1 (first achieved in September 2019)

Grand Slam quad wheelchair titles: 15 singles, 8 doubles

Australian Open: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 singles titles; 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 doubles (all with Australian Heath Davidson)

Roland Garros: 2019, 2020, 2021 singles titles; 2019 doubles (with American David Wagner)

Wimbledon: 2019, 2021 singles titles; 2019 doubles (with Brit Andy Lapthorne)

US Open: 2015, 2018, 2021 singles titles; 2019, 2020 doubles (both with Lapthorne)

Paralympic Games record: Four gold medals, two silver medals

Beijing 2008 gold medallist with Australian Rollers basketball team

London 2012 silver medallist with Australian Rollers basketball team

Rio 2016 singles and doubles (with Davidson) gold medallist quad wheelchair tennis

Tokyo 2020 singles gold medallist quad wheelchair tennis; doubles silver medallist (with Davidson)