The US Open is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the US Open Wheelchair Competition in 2017, with the best wheelchair players from around the world returning to Flushing Meadows. Throughout the event, we are spotlighting the standout wheelchair athletes taking part in the event here at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. We’re looking within to see what it takes to train and compete as an elite athlete, and we’re looking beyond to see how these athletes spend their time off the court.
Dylan Alcott, defending champion in the US Open quadriplegic division, is back in Queens looking to be crowned king. Here's a look at the 26-year old.
Looking Within:
The phrase, “Ball is life,” really rings true for Australian wheelchair tennis player Dylan Alcott.
Alcott was born with a tumor wrapped around his spinal cord. It was able to be removed with surgery, but the procedure left him paralyzed and reliant on a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
Growing up, Alcott had trouble coming to terms with his disability. He was depressed and was getting bullied at school. But that all changed when he was 10, as Alcott’s brother invited him for a hitting session at a local club. Even though he was in a chair, Alcott was able to enjoy an activity with his brother, who was able-bodied.
Tennis changed Alcott’s life. It bolstered his confidence, helped him meet plenty of people, and put him on the path towards success. In 2004, Alcott turned pro.
“Tennis was the first time I met people that were similar to me, and traveled the world. It was a lifeline that I definitely don’t take for granted. I went down to my local club and had a hit with my brother, and it turned into this.”
After playing professional wheelchair tennis for two years from 2004-2006, the Melbourne native traded tennis balls for a basketball, playing for Team Australia on the men’s Paralympic basketball team.
Alcott, along with his team, captured the gold medal in basketball in Beijing in 2008, and competed again in London in 2012.
In 2014, Alcott returned to the baseline and quickly ascended the rankings to become the No. 1 quad wheelchair tennis player in the world that March. Since, he’s dominated the quad field, winning titles at both the Australian Open and French Open—the first Grand Slam titles of his career— in 2015 before capturing the US Open title that same year. He's since also won the Australian Open quad singles titles in 2016 and 2017.
In 2016, Alcott returned to the Paralympics – only this time in tennis. He captured the gold medal in quad singles and doubles.
Alcott has this year returned to New York, looking to defend his 2015 title. It’s also especially exciting as Alcott, a huge music and an especially zealous 90’s hip hop fan, is in the city where some of his favorite artists were born.
“I love 90’s hip hop, Nas, the Wu [Tang Clan], and Biggie [Smalls] - stuff like that. So being here, in New York, where they’re from, is so special. It’s the music that I play to get hyped up before a match.”
In the song, “Let Nas Down”, a homage to Brooklyn-born hip hop star, Nas, rapper J.Cole croons, “Long live your idols, may they never be your rivals.”
Alcott’s tennis idols certainly haven’t become his rivals; they’re now colleagues and friends – something that still amazes the Aussie.
“It’s funny,” says Alcott, “‘cause now you're mates with a lot of these tennis players you admire, like Andy Murray, I’ve had lunch with him a few times, he’s a legend. Thanasi [Kokkinakis], Nick Kyrgios back home; yeah, [I'm] cool with them all.”
But what Alcott seems to fail to realize is that he’s a legend himself, creating a legacy that has helped to grow the game, while serving as a global ambassador for people with disabilities.
“I got to play my final on Rod Laver Arena in front of 7,500 people who came to watch," he says. "That’s unheard of. So the sport is growing, and it’s a pleasure to be a part of it.”
Looking Beyond:
It’s hard to figure out when Alcott has time to sleep.
Alcott is your modern day Renaissance Man; a tennis player-turned DJ- turned philanthropist hybrid. Meeting all his endeavors with an infectiously positive attitude and a pair of cool kicks.
For starters, Alcott is a music lover. All genres. He’s been to known to trade in his serve for crowd surfing at concerts and festivals on several occasions – wheelchair and all.
Alcott’s crowd surfing got the attention of Triple J – the largest radio station in Australia. He has since begun spinning tracks and blasting his quick wit over the airways in the Outback with his own radio show on Triple J. His job has him also jetsetting across the world, going to music fests and meeting plenty of artists – including one of his all-time favorites, the Wu Tang Clan.
“I’m a big hip-hop fan, Wu-Tang Clan – was lucky enough to get on stage with them.”
Alcott has taken the stage with them on several occasions, and has even gone so far as to write a character reference for Wu Tang clan member Ghostface Killah, when the rapper faced a potential visa ban keeping him from performing at a concert down under. But Alcott was quick to come to his aid, and with his signature, the show went on.
Alcott’s altruism isn’t limited to helping out hip hop royalty. The tennis player also has an eponymous foundation, focused on inspiring and giving back to young children with disabilities.
“I’ve also started my foundation as well, called the Dylan Alcott Foundation, which gives scholarships and mentoring to young kids with disabilities who are having trouble coming to terms with their disabilities and to help improve their quality of life, to play tennis, to get into school, to play music – whatever they want to do.”
Besides his work with his foundation, Alcott’s parlayed his desire to spread awareness for people with disabilities into a business. In December 2016, Alcott founded Get Skilled Access, a training organization that works with big corporations and governments on how better to understand people with disabilities to get them ready for employment but also to improve their customer service when dealing with people.
“I employee 20 different Paralympians as trainers, and they’re based in Australia which is cool.”
So what does a man, who’s just about accomplished it all, look to tackle next?
Global expansion.
“I want to launch Get Skilled Access over here in the USA – GSA USA it’s going to be called, and that’s exciting. Love working with radio and TV – The Late Show with Dylan Alcott – that sounds kinda cool.”
After barely taking a breath when he recites an exhaustive list of everything he’s involved in, Alcott smiles and says with a chuckle, “And I enjoy having a beer with my friends as well."
