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Dylan Alcott and Heath Davison survived a semi-final scare on Sunday night to earn the right to defend their Paralympics quad doubles gold medal at Tokyo 2020.
The Rio champions were cruising at 6-2, 3-0, before Japan’s Mitsuteru Moroishi and Koji Sugeno won four straight games, only for the top seeds to steady and advance to the final 6-2, 6-4.
It ensured a positive end to the day for Australia at Ariake Tennis Park, after birthday boy Ben Weekes had earlier given up a set lead, to go down to rising Belgian Jef Vandorpe.
Celebrating his 37th birthday, Weekes was overpowered by the 20-year-old world No. 16, 3-6, 6-1, 6-0.
The quad doubles combination was always set to play for a medal in the seven-team draw as they were given a first up bye, and Alcott was delighted to win through to the final in straight sets.
“We were a bit nervous, a bit tight there in the second (set), but they played awesome and I guess we were maybe lucky there wasn’t a home crowd there.” he said.
Alcott and Davidson’s combination has only become stronger since they stormed to the gold medal in 2016.
The pair have won the past four Australian Open quad doubles titles together and Davidson feels a more complete player.
“I think I was only playing tennis again for just on two years when we went to Rio,” the 34-year-old said.
“Having a big five-year spell together, Dylan helping me and myself helping Dylan through tough times on tour, it’s made us really close.”
The quad doubles final is scheduled for Wednesday where the Australians will meet Sam Schroder and Niels Vink of the Netherlands.
The second seeds breezed past Great Britain’s Andy Lapthorne and Antony Cotterill 6-0, 6-2.
Davidson will get a first-hand look at Schroder’s form when they meet in the quad singles quarter-final on Monday, while Alcott will meet American Bryan Barten.
Meanwhile, Weekes was powerless against an awesome array of ground strokes from former world no. 1 junior Vandorpe.
The Australian five-time Paralympian had the better of a tight first set before Vandorpe unleashed in a merciless display of power hitting.
The 20-year-old struck 34 winners to Weekes’ eight, with the count reading 15-1 in the 2nd set and 14-5 in the third.
It is the fourth time in five Paralympic campaigns where Weekes has been knocked in in the 2nd round, with the Beijing Games in 2008 the only time he hasn’t progressed past the first round.
SUNDAY RESULTS
Quad doubles semi-final
Alcott / Davidson (AUS) (1) def. Moroishi / Sugeno (JPN) 6-2, 6-4.
Open singles 2nd round
Jeff Vandorpe (BEL) (15) def. Ben Weekes (AUS) 3-6, 6-1, 6-0.
MONDAY MATCHES
Quad singles quarter-final
Heath Davidson (AUS) v Sam Schroder (NED) (2) – 3rd on court 3
Dylan Alcott (AUs) (1) v Bryan Barten (USA) – 4th on court 3
By: Paralympics Australia
Posted: 29 August 2021
