31-year-old Dylan Alcott ended his wheelchair tennis career on Thursday after losing in the Australian Open final.
The Antipodes player failed to close this chapter of his life with a 16th Grand Slam victory.
Necessarily moved at a press conference, his last as a player, the native of Hapton East wanted to read a message that Andy Murray had just sent him, five times finalist in Melbourne but never crowned, to salute his immense career.
To discover
Australian Open: men's schedule and results
Australian Open: ladies schedule and results
"
I hope he doesn't mind but Andy Murray just texted me
: '
I don't know if I'm going to be good at expressing myself but you are an absolute rock star, a source of inspiration. Thank you for everything you have done
,” read the Australian, particularly touched by these few words coming from a former world number 1, like him.
It's so nice.
I didn't think that would ever happen.
It's cool, really cool.
Dylan Alcott
“
It kills me and it makes me want to cry.
It's special…
”, chained the champion overwhelmed by emotion and then searching for his words.
“
That's so nice.
I didn't think that would ever happen.
It's cool, really cool.
It's even better than winning a tournament.
He is a sports legend with an interest in wheelchair tennis.
If it's good for a person like him then it must be good for everyone
, "continued Dylan Alcott, who will now devote his post-career to helping the daily lives of people with disabilities: "
My goal is to change perceptions, so that people with disabilities can live the life they deserve, not just in sport, but in employment, education, movies, television, dating, going to bars, going to festivals.
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