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After two days where patience has been the most valuable of virtues, Australia’s Dylan Alcott and Heath Davidson seemed in an awful hurry to book their place in the 2nd round of the quad singles Wheelchair Tennis at Tokyo 2020.
The Japanese capital’s searing heat once again ensured a late start on the outside courts at Ariake Tennis Park and, when they finally got on court on Saturday evening, the Australians duly scorched past their first round opponents.
Defending gold medallist and world No. 1 Alcott had his match shifted to centre court and took only 49 minutes to thump Japan’s Mitsuteru Moroishi 6-0, 6-2.
At the other edge of the precinct on court nine, team-mate Davidson made even shorter work of Antony Cotterill of Great Britain, winning 6-1, 6-0, in 45 minutes.
Alcott comes to Tokyo with the glare of the world tennis spotlight on him having won the three preceding singles majors this year.
He also comes a more complete player than in Rio five years ago, and when asked how the 2016 Alcott would fare on the court against the player of this week, his response was emphatic
“I think he’d get pumped – I hope!” he said.
“Probably the mental side of the game I’ve really worked on, and had a couple of big losses, (like) when I had an opportunity for the Grand Slam in 2019.”
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Alcott won the first nine games, and in a bizarre twist, the only two games Moroishi won in the match came by breaking Alcott’s serve twice in the second set.
Davidson overcame a case of the Paralympics jitters to crush his British opponent.
“I was really nervous actually going into to that one – it hit me about 10 minutes before I went on court,” Davidson said.
And with the hot weather continuing to be a talking point, the 34-year-old expects the Australians to have a natural advantage, but isn’t complaining about the players being kept away from the afternoon swelter.
“We live in Australia, of course its not going to bother us, it is really humid though. I’d much prefer to be sweaty out here at night than roasting at two o’clock in the afternoon.
“The arms are good, starting to get back into it, obviously we haven’t played a tournament in a little while.”
Alcott’s 2nd round opponent is yet to be decided while Davidson will face Dutch no. 2 seed Sam Schroder.
Both Australian quads have the day off from singles on Sunday but will begin the defence of their doubles gold medal.
The pair are no. 1 seeds and were given a first round bye in the seven-team draw so will hit the tournament in a first up semi-final.
It’s a familiar foe for Alcott, as his conquered singles opponent Mitsuteru and Japanese compatriot Kugi Sugeno, will face the Rio champions.
Meanwhile, in the open doubles, Ben Weeks and Martyn Dunn were knocked out in the opening round by Brazil’s Gustavo Carneiro Silva and Daniel Rodrigues 6-3, 6-3.
The result means the end of the tournament for Dunn, while Weekes continues his singles campaign on Sunday with a 2nd round match against Jef Vandorpe of Belgium.
Vandorpe, the world no. 15, is just 20 years old and a former junior world no. 1. It will be the first meeting at tour level between the pair.
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SATURDAY RESULTS
Quad singles 1st round
Dylan Alcott (AUS) (1) def. Mitsuteru Moroishi (JPN) 6-0, 6-2.
Heath Davidson (AUS) def. Antnoy Cotterill (GBR) 6-1, 6-0.
Open doubles 1st round
Carneiro Silva / Rodrigues (BRA) def. Weekes / Dunn (AUS) 6-2, 6-3.
SUNDAY MATCHES
(outside courts scheduled to begin at 1500 Tokyo / 1600 AEST)
Quad doubles semi-final
Alcott / Davidson (AUS) (1) v Moroishi / Sugeno (JPN) – 3rd on court 1
Open singles 2nd round
Ben Weekes (AUS) v Jef Vandorpe (BEL) (15) – 1st on court
By: Paralympics Australia
Posted: 28 August 2021
