Wheelchair tennis legend Dylan Alcott is leaving after the Australian Open
Wheelchair tennis legend Dylan Alcott will end his career after the Australian Open in 2022.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit:
Nov 11, 2021, 07:26 am
You should stop when it is most beautiful. Dylan Alcott took this saying to heart, as the Australian will end his active career after winning the Golden Slam this year after the Australian Open in 2022. "I feel like I've done everything I have to do on the tennis court," said the 30-year-old at a press conference.
Alcott, who had to undergo surgery in the first few weeks of life due to a tumor on the spinal cord and has had paraplegia since then, is an absolute legend of wheelchair tennis. The Australian won 15 Grand Slam titles in singles and eight major trophies in doubles. Alcott was also successful at the Paralympics in both singles (2016 and 2020) and doubles (2016).
"It was an incredible time and I think it's time to move on to other things," said Alcott of his decision. He will be forever grateful to tennis: "I used to hate myself so much. I hated my disability. I didn't even want to be here anymore. I discovered tennis and it changed and saved my life. Now I'm the only one male tennis player who's ever won the Golden Slam. That's pretty cool. "
Before Alcott, who won the gold medal and four years later silver with the Australian basketball team at the Paralympics in 2008, goes back to his civil profession as a lawyer, he wants to win the eighth Australian Open triumph in a row at the Grand Slam home tournament in Melbourne : "I'm going to work my ass for the next two months and try to leave with a sense of achievement."