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Aussie Dylan Alcott snares inaugural Wimbledon quad wheelchair title

Australia's Dylan Alcott (R) hugs opponent Andy Lapthorne of Great Britain after the Quad Wheelchair final.

Australia's Dylan Alcott (R) hugs opponent Andy Lapthorne of Great Britain after the Quad Wheelchair final. Photo: Getty

Australian world No.1 Dylan Alcott has won the inaugural quad wheelchair singles final at Wimbledon, thrashing Britain’s Andy Lapthorne with whom he had won the doubles event 24 hours earlier.

Alcott, a 12-time grand-slam champion, won 6-0 6-2 on Saturday.

Women’s world No.1 and French Open winner Ashleigh Barty led the tributes to her compatriot.

The Australian tweeted: “Onya Dyl!! Never change – you’re a bloody legend.”

Alcott said after that match that he had been hoping to “smoke” his partner and he did just that, dropping just two games on Court 12.

“Dream come true to be here. Wearing the whites, strawberries and cream, everyone drinking Pimm’s. It was so cool,” Alcott said.

“Am I allowed to say Pimm’s? I did anyway.”

Two-time Paralympic silver medallist Lapthorne was staring at a dreaded double-bagel at 6-0 5-0, but he managed to get two games on the board before Alcott wrapped up victory.

Alcott, who won a Logie two weeks ago for Australian TV’s best new talent, said winning Wimbledon topped that.

“I’m trending on Twitter at home. Like, you know, the AFL is on at the moment, and the NRL. I’m trending with them,” he said.

“People care and watch now. I love that, you know what I mean? So cool.”

The 28-year-old said it was a thrill to be putting wheelchair tennis in the spotlight.

“You get big crowds in Australia. At the Australian Open, it’s amazing. There was a full stadium at Wimbledon on grass watching,” Alcott said.

“Seventy per cent of the people there were from Australia. It was unbelievable. That was so cool, to go away and have a crowd like that.

“I think you could tell I had a pep in my step from the start. That was because of the vibe – it was a beautiful day. The grass was beautiful.

“I was like, wow, this is sick. I’m really going to enjoy myself.”

Quad wheelchair tennis made its competitive debut at Wimbledon having appeared last year as an exhibition event.

 

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