One of Australia’s most popular sports stars, Dylan Alcott, has announced he will retire from tennis after the 2022 Australian Open.
The 30-year-old, who this year won the Golden Slam – all four major titles plus a Paralympic gold medal – will bring down the curtain on a remarkable career which has so far seen the Melburnian win 23 Grand Slam titles, with 15 of those coming in singles.
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He also won five Paralympic medals, three for tennis and two for wheelchair basketball.
“The time has come, I feel redundant, I feel old,” Alcott said.
“I feel a bit washed up and the next generation is coming. It’s their turn to dominate and get the recognition they deserve.”
Alcott revealed he gets more satisfaction from what happens away from tennis, rather than the titles he’s accumulated through the sport.
“I’m super proud, probably more proud of the work we’ve done off the court. Being a good tennis player is the 32nd priority in my life, and I mean that.
“Being a good person is number one, a good family member, good friend and partner, 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.
“I’m so lucky.”
The seven-time Australian Open champion revealed a conversation with tournament director Craig Tiley that changed the way wheelchair sport is seen.
“I’ll never forget going up to Craig and I was playing on the outdoor courts, and I said you’ve got more people wanting to watch than we’ve got seats,” he explained.
“I conned him into putting me on Rod Laver (Arena), and we played on Rod Laver, live on TV, and I’ll never forget, 10,000 people there and I looked up and there was 500 kids in wheelchairs.
“I’d never seen that in my life. That’s the reason I get out of bed.”
Australian tennis legend Todd Woodbridge said Alcott departs as one of the greats.
“It’s perfect to finish at the top, and for Dylan to have the chance to go to the Australian Open and receive the accolades that he deserves,” he told Wide World of Sports.
“I’ve seen Roger Federer manage his time and the stress and still achieve great things, but Dylan takes that to another level.
“To be able to cope with the attention that Dylan gets in Melbourne, while not losing focus, or getting angry or tired, it shows what an amazing person he is.”
Woodbridge said that Alcott’s achievements transcend tennis.
“For me he is one of our greatest athletes, for what he’s opened up for so many other people. He’s proven to every athlete what they’re capable of doing,” he explained.
“Just being around Dylan is so motivating, he’s been an extraordinary role model for so many people.”
Following the path of the likes of David Hall and Danni Di Toro, who did so much to put wheelchair tennis on the map, Dylan took the sport to the next level.
“Dylan’s personality has driven that sport to the highest levels internationally,” Woodbridge noted.
“He has helped to create better equality, better prizemoney and better exposure.
“They weren’t going to play the wheelchair events at last year’s US Open, and with a statement from him he was able to get that decision overturned, and get the organisers to realise it was the wrong thing to do.
“He has given so many people the opportunity to make a career out of wheelchair tennis.
“His biggest contribution is to show the community that having a disability shouldn’t hold you back.”
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.
With capacity crowds a possibility for January’s Australian Open, more than 750,000 fans will have the opportunity to say farewell to Alcott in style, as he seeks an eighth straight title in Melbourne.
“It will be great for him to take in the accolades that he so richly deserves,” Woodbridge said.
“There’s no doubt that in five years time, he will be inducted into both the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame, and the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
“That’s the greatest honour you can have within our sport.”
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