Dylan Alcott wins US Open quad wheelchair doubles title with Andy Lapthorne
by ABCAustralia’s Dylan Alcott has added another major title to his collection after teaming up with Briton Andy Lapthorne to win the men’s quad wheelchair doubles final at the US Open.
Alcott and Lapthorne defended their doubles crown by beating American David Wagner and Sam Schroder of The Netherlands 3-6 6-4 (10-8) in a tense encounter in New York.
It is the seventh major doubles title for Alcott, who sealed the victory with an ace.
His attention will now turn to his upcoming singles final against Schroder on Monday morning (AEST), as he looks to add a win to his victory at the Australian Open earlier this year.
Alcott has won 10 major singles titles and is pursuing a third US Open crown.
He lost to Lapthorne in the singles final last year, the defeat denying him a Grand Slam.
Alcott was prominent among the critics of US Open organisers back in June when they initially decided to cancel the wheelchair events as a way of reducing numbers at the tournament in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Just got announced that the US Open will go ahead WITHOUT wheelchair tennis … Players weren’t consulted,” Alcott posted on Twitter after the initial announcement was made.
“I thought I did enough to qualify – 2x champion, number 1 in the world. But unfortunately I missed the only thing that mattered, being able to walk. Disgusting discrimination.”
The US Tennis Association (USTA) reversed its decision following “multiple virtual meetings with a group of wheelchair athletes and the International Tennis Federation” in June.
USTA acknowledged it should have consulted wheelchair athletes before originally deciding to cancel their competition in New York.
–ABC