'So good': Tennis world in frenzy over Ash Barty and Dylan Alcott
Ash Barty and Dylan Alcott sent the tennis world into a frenzy on and off the court at Wimbledon on Saturday.
It was double delight for Australia as Alcott won his third grand slam title of the year in the wheelchair singles final, before Barty won the women's final for the second major of her career.
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Alcott moved one step closer to a potential calendar year 'Golden Slam' after a 6-2 6-2 victory over his biggest current rival, Dutchman Sam Schroder, in the final.
And after completing her three-set win over Karolina Pliskova, Barty said she would seek out her good mate Alcott to celebrate.
"Dylan did have a win today - so I'm sure I'll go and find him and we'll 'cheers' and have a good night!" she said.
The pair often train at the same venue with Alcott telling AAP: "She's a bloody legend. From when she was a nobody to now, the best player in the world, she's exactly the same.
"We had a coffee upstairs the other day and you just wouldn't know she was the World No.1 about to win Wimbledon, she's just so chilled."
The Aussie champions posed for a photo together earlier on Saturday, just hours before the double triumph.
The photo, as well as their victories on the court at the All England Club, sent the tennis world and wider community into meltdown.
Magnificent. Inspirational. Congratulations @ashbarty! A great Australian champion. Australia is bursting with pride. A generational achievement.
Respect also for Karolína Plíšková. A great competitor.
Ash Barty. Wimbledon Champion. How good! pic.twitter.com/th5XYUPnAr— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) July 10, 2021
Congratulations @DylanAlcott on winning your second #Wimbledon title. Truly extraordinary. On to Tokyo for the ‘golden slam’. https://t.co/v7SW1UE7SP
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) July 10, 2021
Congratulations Ash Barty, Wimbledon Champion. 🏆
Also, congratulations to Dylan Alcott, two time Wimbledon Champion. 🏆🏆
Great night for Australian tennis! 🎾#Wimbledon #BartyParty pic.twitter.com/1Thw8oE2EU— Greg Hunt (@GregHuntMP) July 10, 2021
You can’t help but be a proud Australian after an amazing night of tennis & to see our own Ash Barty and Dylan Alcott win their respective Wimbledon matches.
You’ve both done your country proud & I for one, couldn’t be more proud of you both.
Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi! Oi! Oi! pic.twitter.com/vtxCMXJEPF— Philip Couper (@P_Couper) July 10, 2021
Just can not get enough of Ash Barty and Dylan Alcott.
Wow!
Can we bottle this feeling?
It feels good to be inspired. pic.twitter.com/SAJo4HC47Q— 📣 We Are Hughes (@HumansOfHughes) July 10, 2021
These two are unstoppable!@DylanAlcott & @ashbarty #Wimbledon2021 #AshBarty #Barty #DylanAlcott #Alcott pic.twitter.com/EdTiNNZACd
— tenmis (@cienan_m) July 10, 2021
Amazing job by Ashley Barty and Dylan Alcott. So good to see Aussies smashing it at #Wimbledon
— carmen (@carmendews) July 10, 2021
Dylan Alcott on cusp of rare 'Golden Slam'
After his successes at the Australian Open and French Open earlier this year, 30-year-old Alcott has now set his sights on Tokyo for the Paralympics.
If successful there, he will only need to win the US Open to complete the five-title 'Golden Slam'.
"I'm cooked! That was hard," Alcott told the crowd on Court No.3.
"If that went three sets, I'm in big trouble. But I just love Wimbledon, I get emotional thinking about it here. To me, it's been a privilege .... a dual Wimbledon champion!
"There were some Aussies here in the crowd. I heard my mate pop a bottle of champagne at the start of the second set! I thought, 'I haven't won yet - so tone it down!'"
The 21-year-old Schroder is the only man to have beaten Alcott this season and was confident of repeating his recent triumph over the Aussie at last month's French Riviera Open.
Yet the Australian was at his sharpest as he picked up the 14th grand slam singles title of his glittering career, breaking the left-hander Schroder three times in the opening set and three in the second for a comprehensive triumph.
Demonstrating more flair and touch than the Dutchman, especially with his drop shots that constantly caused Schroder problems, Alcott again showed why he's become a firm favourite with the Wimbledon crowd with his shows of emotion and virtuoso shot-making.
After he'd wrapped up his victory in 67 minutes, Alcott spun around in his wheelchair - much to the delight of the crowd.
with AAP
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