DYLAN ALCOTT SET FOR 24 HOUR CHALLENGE

Written by: Staff on 10th December 2014

DYLAN ALCOTT SET FOR 24 HOUR CHALLENGE |

In the video below Wagner, who began playing competitive tennis in 1999, talks about the path that eventually led him to win six medals at the Paralympic Games (two of them gold), and his first Grand Slam US Open win in 2010. Off the court, Wagner provides inspiration to other athletes and the disabled through his speeches.

We hope all the readers enjoy the video!

Original Link: http://hooplaha.com/2014/12/wheelchair-tennis-champion-serves-up-aces-inspiration/

( Courtesy of the ITF and Original Link – http://www.itftennis.com/news/194069.aspx )

At the end of a tremendous debut season in the quad division on the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour, world No. 2 Dylan Alcott is set for the longest tennis match of his career in Melbourne this week.

“I’ve decided to go for a 24 hour world record of wheelchair tennis. It’s a pretty ridiculous idea to be honest,” said Alcott, who conceived the idea earlier this year. The 23-year-old Victorian will commence his 24-hour attempt at Melbourne Park on Thursday 11 December, with a line-up of celebrities and family members and fans set to join him on court to complete the challenge.

Alcott hopes to raise awareness for two charities that supported him as a child, when he endured countless operations and visits to hospital to treat a rare type of tumour wrapped around his spinal cord.

“When I was 10 years old I spent the first six months of the year bedridden after complications during surgery,” said the British Open champion, who made his Grand slam debut at the Australian Open in January this year.

“Depressed and upset, the Starlight Foundation came to my rescue and granted my family and me a wish to swim with the dolphins at Sea World on the Gold Coast. It was a truly once in a lifetime experience.

“Variety – the Children’s Charity, a charity for kids with disabilities, saw me using a borrowed tennis wheelchair that didn’t fit me, so they raised the money to get me a new one. Without them I don’t think I would be the Paralympic gold medallist that I am today.”

A former world No. 4 ranked junior wheelchair tennis player, Alcott went on to win Paralympic gold and silver medals as part of Australia’s men’s wheelchair basketball team before deciding to return to tennis in 2013. He won his first quad singles title at the New Zealand Open in January and has since added ITF 1 Series titles at the Belgian Open and Nottingham Indoor.

Dylan Alcott

The wheelchair tennis ace, who remains passionate about both charities, came up with the idea for the 24-hour charity tennis challenge while driving past Melbourne’s National Tennis Centre and set himself a goal to raise $100,000 for the two causes.

Alcott announced on his Facebook athlete fan page over the weekend that donations so far had topped AUS $30,000.

The money raised will help Australian children living with illness or disability to achieve their goals and help to improve their quality of life.

“Having a disability can be very hard, especially for kids growing up, as I experienced first-hand. These donations will assist in granting wishes for sick children and purchasing equipment such as wheelchairs to enable them to live better lives,” Alcott said.

“Twenty-four hours, I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I’ve always wanted to give back to these charities that helped my family and me so much when I was a kid,” Alcott said.

“I think the challenge will be a great thing for people with disabilities, and for people who don’t know much about wheelchair tennis. I think it’s a barrier-breaker. It’s an extreme way, but a good way to catch the public’s eye so they can see what we do and how we do it.”

Alcott’s tennis marathon will start at midday on Thursday, 11 December and continue until midday on Friday 12 December at Melbourne Park.

Alcott encouraged the general public to get involved, regardless of their tennis ability.

“Come and try wheelchair tennis or come and play me on your feet, it doesn’t matter. Come down and have a hit,” he said.

To donate please visit: http://personalchallenge.gofundraise.com.au/page/dylanalcott

Topics: Dylan Alcott, Melbourne, Tennis, UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour

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10sBalls_com says:

December 10, 2014 at 11:45 am

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