Australian wheelchair tennis star Dylan Alcott ends 2020 as world No 1
Australia’s wheelchair tennis star Dylan Alcott has capped a memorable 2020 by finishing the year as the International Tennis Federation’s world No 1 for quad singles.
It is the fifth time Alcott has claimed the year-end top spot, repeating his achievements from 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.
In January, Alcott became the first quad player to win 10 grand slam singles titles with his sixth Australian Open triumph.
He added an 11th in October, when he defended his French Open crown with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over his doubles partner Andy Lapthorne at Roland Garros.
The 30-year-old finished the year with an 18-1 singles win-loss record, his only defeat coming in the US Open final, where he finished runner-up to Sam Schroder of the Netherlands.
“In such a strange year, it is a massive honour to finish the year as world No 1,” Alcott said.
“A big thanks to my team and everyone who supports me. I also want to send my love to everyone who has done it tough in 2020.
“Let’s hope we can all keep working together and get ready for a – hopefully – brighter 2021.”
Alcott made headlines earlier this year when he slammed US Open tennis organisers, accusing them of “disgusting discrimination” for planning this year’s coronavirus-compromised grand slam tournament without wheelchair tennis.
A week later organisers announced wheelchair tennis was back on the schedule, a backflip praised by Alcott as “a massive sign of progress for our community”.