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Dylan Alcott’s quest for a third US Open singles title will have to wait another year.
The Netherlands’ Sam Schroder capped a dream Grand Slam debut with a 7-6(5) 0-6 6-4 victory over the world No.1-ranked Australian in the quad wheelchair final this morning.
Schroder raced to a 5-2 lead in the opening set, forcing Alcott to dig deep. The 29-year-old from Melbourne reeled off four consecutive games to earn a set point at 6-5, but his world No.4-ranked opponent was able to force a tiebreak.
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After losing the opening set, Alcott stepped up his game. He stormed through the second set without losing a game, overwhelming the 20-year-old Schroder.
It looked like Alcott’s big stage experience would prove pivotal, with the top-seeded Australian winning a run of eight consecutive games.
However, the left-handed Schroder regained control in the deciding set. From 0-2 down, Schroder won five of the next six games to establish a 5-3 lead.
Alcott kept fighting, breaking Schroder’s serve in the ninth game – but could not stop his opponent from sealing victory after two hours and two minutes on court.
Alcott won a total of 101 points to Schroder’s 90 – but the Dutch player proved clutch under pressure, denying Alcott the chance to replicate his New York title-winning runs in 2015 and 2018.
It is Alcott’s first singles loss since last year’s US Open final, which Brit Andy Lapthorne won.
Alcott teamed with Lapthorne to win a second consecutive US Open doubles title yesterday.
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By: Tennis Australia / Leigh Rogers
Posted: 14 September 2020
