Wheelchair tennis ace Dylan Alcott wins 2016 Newcombe Medal

Darren Walton
Nov 28, 2016, updated Nov 28, 2016

Dylan Alcott has carved his name in sports history as the first wheelchair star to win the Newcombe Medal, the highest honour in Australian tennis.

The world No.1 and triple Olympic gold medallist joined grand slam champions Lleyton Hewitt and Samantha Stosur, among others, on the honour roll after receiving his award from John Newcombe at Melbourne’s Crown Palladium on Monday night.

Dylan Alcott won two tennis gold medals at the Rio Paralympics to go with his basketball gold from London. Photo: Getty

Snubbed for a nomination last year despite two grand slam triumphs, Alcott could not be denied again after a dominant 2016 in which he successfully defended his Australian Open title, won singles and doubles gold in Rio and was crowned as Australia’s Paralympian of the Year.

The 25-year-old – who won Olympic gold in wheelchair basketball in 2008 – also partnered with fellow Victorian Heath Davidson to win the World Team Cup in Tokyo and collected other titles in Brisbane, Sydney, South Africa, Japan Open, France and Britain.

Alcott is the fourth different winner in as many years following 2015 recipient Sam Groth, 2014 winner Nick Kyrgios, Hewitt in 2013 and Stosur, a three-time Newcombe Medallist.

Stosur was again shortlisted after reaching the French Open semi-finals for a fourth time, with Daria Gavrilova, John Millman, Jordan Thompson and doubles specialist John Peers the other 2016 nominees.

Despite successful years on court, Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic – who were both conspicuous no-shows from the awards ceremony on Monday night – were overlooked contenders for Australia’s “most outstanding elite tennis player and ambassador for the sport”.

The man the medal and the moment – @DylanAlcott returns to the blue carpet with John Newcombe after taking out the top prize at #Newks16 pic.twitter.com/UveKzYilzz

— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) November 28, 2016