Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott has officially retired from tennis. The legendary player announced his decision to retire ahead of the 2022 Australian Open, saying it would be his final tournament as he attempted to win for an eighth time.
WATCH: Dylan Alcott receives a text from Andy Murray during his final press conference
Over the course of his career Dylan has won 15 major singles titles and eight in doubles. He completed the ‘Golden Slam’ last year by winning all four majors and the Tokyo Paralympics gold medal.
The reigning World No. 1 was sadly denied a “fairytale ending” when he lost to World No. 2 Sam Schröder last night. But, as always, Dylan was gracious even in defeat.
“Not my day today – but can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am for every single one of you for changing my life,” he shared in a statement following his loss. “I’m so proud of what we have achieved together. Thank you for making me feel worthy. I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”
Dylan also shared an important message with reporters in the media room following his match, where he read aloud a “special” message he had just received from tennis great Andy Murray.
“This just sums up how it has changed,” he said. “I hope he doesn’t mind this but Andy Murray just messaged me: ‘I don’t know if I’ve articulated that well, but you’re an absolute rockstar and inspiration with everything you’ve done’.
“That kills me. That makes me want to cry. It’s special. You’re a part of it. They don’t even care you’re in a wheelchair. They don’t give a s***.
“It’s special. It’s like that everywhere. I never thought that would happen. It’s cool. That’s better than winning a tennis tournament. That’s a legend of the sport getting around wheelchair tennis. If it’s good enough for someone like that, it’s good enough for everyone.”
Dylan continued on to marvel at how things have changed since he first played at the Australian Open in 2014.
“There was five people there, five; my dad, mum, brother, couple of mates, and some people got lost and accidentally walked past,” he said.
“Legit, not exaggerating. Now as full as humanly possible Rod Laver, Channel 9 held the news, it was the biggest show in town with Nick and Thanasi and Ash today. I’m on the opening billboard when you get here in Melbourne, bloody Australian of the Year for God’s sake.
“What the hell is that? That’s ridiculous. People might think that I love myself and it’s all about me but it’s not. That’s not what I’m about. It’s about changing perceptions so more people with disability get their opportunity to be them.
“Not winning a gold medal, not winning Grand Slams, but just going to a café, enjoying their life, having a job, going on a date, having a hit at tennis, whatever it is. So I never thought it would happen but it was my goal to make it happen, and it’s happened a trillion times more than I thought.
“And it’s not going to stop happening whatever I do next, I’m going to make sure it keeps happening. I’m excited for the next part of my life, whatever that may be.”
His sentiment echoed his stellar speech at the Australian of the Year ceremony one day earlier on January 26.
“I’ve been in a wheelchair my whole life. I was born with a tumour wrapped around my spinal cord that was cut out when I was only a couple of days old,” Dylan told the audience as he accepted the AOTY.
“I’ve known nothing but having a disability, and if I’m honest with you, I can’t tell you how much I used to hate myself. I used to hate having a disability. I hated it so much, I hated being different and I didn’t want to be here anymore. I really didn’t.
“Whenever I turned on the TV, or the radio or the newspaper, I never saw anybody like me. And whenever I did, it was a road safety ad where someone drink drives, has a car accident and what’s the next scene? Someone like me in tears because their life was over.
“And I thought to myself, ‘that’s not my life’, but I believed that was going to be my life,” he continued in his speech, which you can watch in full here.
“I really hope I make you proud out there. But, winning grand slams and gold medals isn’t my purpose. It’s like the 30th priority of my life.
“My purpose is changing perceptions so people with disability, people like me can get out there and live the lives that they deserve to live.
“It was my purpose yesterday, today and it will be my purpose as your Australian of the Year for the next 12 months and beyond, and I really hope I make every single one of you proud.”
Congratulations to Dylan on his retirement! We can’t wait to see what the Australian of the Year does next.
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