Dylan Alcott has kicked off his retirement party by sipping from a beer in a water bottle during his interview with Nine.
Speaking with panel hosts Jelena Dokic and James Bracey after his loss to Sam Schroder in the quad wheelchair singles final, Alcott reflected on his appointment as Australian of the Year and retirement from professional tennis, before announcing that his drink bottle was filled with beer.
“I’ve got beer in a water bottle,” he said with a massive smile.
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“We were wondering when the party would get started for you, it’s already started,” Bracey replied.
“Only you would fill up a bottle with some frothy as well”
“It’s because I can fit two in there,” Alcott added.
Denied his eighth consecutive Australian Open title by the Dutch youngster in his last match, Alcott discussed his relationship with sport and how it has evolved to allow him to advocate for disability.
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“I’m alright like I’m honestly okay,” he said about the loss.
“I meant what I said (after the final), I don’t need to win today for any reason.
“I obviously wish I did but Sam beat me today and he deserved to win.
“My purpose used to be to win sporting events but it’s not anymore – it’s to change the perceptions so that people with disabilities can live better lives and the lives they want to live.
“I’m forever grateful for sport – originally basketball but mainly tennis – because it gave me the platform to do what I’m passionate about, but I didn’t need to win to do that anymore, I knew that, and I’m so proud of we have achieved here.”
After accepting the title of this year’s Australian of the Year in between matches on Tuesday night, Alcott said his acceptance speech transcended sport.
“I thought I could pull it off this week, obviously I wasn’t able to do it but I was always going to try,” he said.
“I had no idea I was winning in Canberra, but if I had done that speech over Zoom with bad internet, I would have forever hated myself because that speech was more important than winning today.
“I’m going to be honest, it meant more to me to be able to say what I said about my community, and the response has been mega.”
Alcott revealed that the last stop in his career was meant to be completing the Golden Slam at the US Open, however he decided that he could not finish his illustrious career abroad.
“I’ve been saying that I’m up and about and ready, but the truth is, I have been trying my best to get to the finish line, and that finish line for me was the Golden Slam, and I was like, ‘I can’t retire here, I’ve got to go one more’ and I almost got there, I almost did it and I tried my best to win it at home but I’m so glad I tried because this is my home right here.”
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