Alcott Through, Davidson Out In Quad Singles

World No.1 Dylan Alcott immediately turned his attention to the semi-finals, while teammate Heath Davidson was knocked out of the quad singles wheelchair tennis quarter finals on Monday.

Alcott breezed past veteran American Bryan Barten 6-1, 6-0, while Davidson was outclassed by world No.2 Sam Schroder of the Netherlands 6-2, 6-1.

There was a sense of local club midweek fixtures at Ariake Tennis Park, with the absence of crowds and further delays due to heat, forcing Alcott and Davidson to play simultaneously on adjoining back courts.

As if back at their homecourts at Moorabbin in suburban Melbourne, no sooner had Davidson packed up on court 3, he pushed over to watch Alcott finish up on court 5.

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But that will be the last of the back blocks for Alcott, as the bright lights of centre court await for a huge semi-final clash against Niels Vink.

The rising Dutch teen defeated Great Britain’s third seed Andy Lapthorne 6-4, 6-1.

“I’ve got a massive test in the semi-final against Niels Vink, who is probably the hottest player in the world at the moment,” the defending gold medallist said.

“I sent him a video for his 18th birthday because we are mates but I 100 per cent know he wants to rip my head off and beat me.

“He is not scared of me one bit.”

Vink hasn’t beaten Alcott in four attempts, the most recent being a 6-4, 6-3 win for the 30-year-old en route to his Australian Open triumph in Melbourne earlier this year.

The Dutch already have an Aussie scalp thanks to Schroder’s brilliant power off the ground to blast past Davidson in 62 minutes.

The world No.2 hit 23 winners to Davidson’s seven.

“I thought I played pretty well but gee he gave me a touch up out there,” the world No.7 said.

Despite the comprehensive nature of the singles score line, Davidson is feeling comfortable in his game ahead of Wednesday’s quad doubles final where, intriguingly, Vink and Schroder await the defending champs.

“I feel like I’m hitting good strokes and I feel like I’m pushing well. I enjoy playing doubles a little bit more,” he said.

MONDAY RESULTS
Quad singles quarter-finals
Dylan Alcott (AUS) (1) def. Bryan Barten (USA) 6-1, 6-0.
Sam Schroder (NED) (2) def. Heath Davidson (AUS) 6-2, 6-1.

TUESDAY MATCHES
Quad singles semi-final
Dylan Alcott (AUS) (1) v Niels Vink (NED) – 5th on centre court

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By: Quentin Hull, Paralympics Australia
Posted: 30 August