“Should I come back? Nah, I am just kidding” Dylan Alcott says goodbye to Melbourne Park in an emotional speech that leaves no eyes dry


“Should I come back? Nah, I am just kidding” Dylan Alcott says goodbye to Melbourne Park in an emotional speech that leaves no eyes dry

Dylan Alcott

World No. 1 Dylan Alcott said goodbye to the Australian Open after playing his last match in Melbourne Park in the finals of wheelchair singles. Alcott however ended as the runner-up for the first time since making his debut in 2015 and winning 7-straight titles since then. Alcott was defeated by Dutchman Sam Schroder who won the 2022 Australian Open title 7-5, 6-0 in 1 hour and 40 minutes.

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While everyone hoped Dylan bowed out with the title to his name and retiring from the Slam as the undisputed and undefeated champion in Melbourne Park, one might consider the emotions got the better of the 31-year old Australian who has decided to retire from the sport after having won 15 singles Grand Slam titles and 8 doubles Grand Slams as well.

“Thank you everyone. congrats to Sam you deserved to win today you are a great player, congrats brother. You will win many of these I reckon. to the Australian Open, I love you so much. Thanks so much, everyone for changing my life but for also backing me and changing my life and helped change some other lives as well.

“Every single locker room in the world has the wheelchair tennis so every single professional player men and women, Top-10, they all know now because it started on the court right here so I am very thankful. To my team, I love you all so much, it has been an incredible 8-9, 31 years for some of us, it’s my mum’s birthday, Happy Birthday Mum.

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To my mom, dad, step-mom dad, my brother Zack, Brenda, Jonsie, Gianni and my beautiful partner Chanelle, I love you all so much. To my friends and family, I have said it, I hated myself so much growing up and the reason I don’t is because of you,” said an emotional Alcott who held his tears time and again.

Dylan Alcott lightens the mood after getting the Arena emotional

Sam Schroder and Dylan Alcott
Sam Schroder and Dylan Alcott with their 2022 Australian Open trophies

Alcott’s speech gave light on how his journey was possible because of the support of the sponsors who believed in his ability and also of the community to whom Dylan was grateful and made a point to remember them during his speech.

“To everyone who has backed me throughout my career, KIA and ANZ sponsors everybody, I love you all so much. But my biggest thanks goes to everyone who is watching this, I’m really is the luckiest guy in the world. I didn’t need to win to realise that, it would have been nice to win, to be honest.

“I’m still the luckiest person in the country if not the luckiest person in the world. It’s because everybody watching today, people like me, people with disability, we are getting the recognition, we are integrated in the society every single day and if you look up in the middle ring see how many people with disabilities are here.

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“To my community, thanks for always backing me I hope made you proud and continue for the next 12 years, sorry 12 months, but this is the last time I speak on the court. Thank you to every single person for changing my life. I appreciate it so much. Should I come back? Nah, I am just kidding,” concluded Alcott as he bowed out as one of the greatest of the game.

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