“Better than winning”: Dylan Alcott fights tears after last ever match
Australian tennis star Dylan Alcott’s final post-match press conference saw him sipping on a beer and cracking jokes when an unexpected moment brought him to tears.
Alcott’s dream of securing his eight straight singles title at Melbourne Park before his retirement was denied after he lost to rival Sam Schroder in straight sets 7-5, 6-0 during the Australian Open quad wheelchair singles final on Thursday evening.
During his post-match conference, Alcott was distracted mid-question by a text he received from British tennis legend Andy Murray.
Prior to the interruption, Alcott described how much the sport had changed since the start of his career, with his first match attracting just five spectators compared to the thousands watching his final match on Rod Laver Arena, along with a million more watching at home.
“This just sums up how it’s changed,” he said, looking at his phone.
“I hope he doesn’t mind this but Andy Murray just messaged me: ‘I don’t know if I’ve articulated that well but you’re an absolute rock star and inspiration. Thanks for everything that you’ve done’.
“That kills me. Makes me want to cry. Special. Like you’re just a part of it … they don’t even care you’re in a wheelchair,” he said through tears.
Image: news.com.au
“They don’t give a s**t. Sorry to swear. It’s special. So nice. It’s like that everywhere. I never thought that would happen, like it’s cool. It’s really cool.
“That’s better than winning a tennis tournament. There’s a legend of the sport getting around wheelchair tennis.
“If it’s good enough for someone like that, it’s good enough for everyone. Sorry I didn’t mean to cry.”
The question Alcott was answering before he received the message was whether he would go on to compete in another sport after basketball and tennis.
Alcott said no, but added that he was keen to get into acting.
“Why not?” he said, adding that he doesn’t understand why people with disabilities can’t be represented everywhere - even in politics.
“Why couldn’t the Prime Minister be in a wheelchair or have a disability? I’m dead serious. Physical or non-physical. Parliament’s not accessible? Build ramps. Just do it.”
Having announced late last year that he would hang his racket up for good following the 2022 Australian Open, Alcott said he was excited to move onto other great things and let other players enjoy the spotlight.
“You could win 25 grand slams in a wheelchair and people might not know who you are. That’s bulls**t. They should know,” he said.
“I’m officially a retired washed up loser and I love it. I am redundant as. Don’t need me, I’m done. Time for someone else to take the reins and it’s hard for someone to take the reins when everyone is talking about one person. It’s just how it is.”
Alcott said he also knew it was time to retire because “the wins mean less and the losses don’t hurt as much”.
His final match came two days after he was in Canberra, where he received the honour of being the 2022 Australian of the Year.
Opponent Sam Schroder, who has now won two Grand Slams against Alcott, said the Aussie tennis champion was an inspiration to many people, including himself, and that it was a special moment to play at Rod Laver Arena.
“Most forums we have maybe a hundred people, maybe 200 at most,” Schroder said.
He said Alcott had brought the crowds out to see them play, and that he hoped it would continue without him.
“I really do hope that now he’s retired that people will still come and support us, because it’s an amazing sport, you know,” he explained.
“We play at a very high level, we practice just as much as the able-bodied players do.”
Image: @dylanalcott (Instagram)