Alcott “smashes glass ceiling” with top honour

Dylan Alcott on Monday night capped off an incredible year by being awarded the highest honour in Australian tennis, the Newcombe Medal.

The world No.1 was bestowed the award at a gala celebration at Crown Palladium in Melbourne, attended by a who’s who of Australian tennis.

Alcott accepted the Newcombe Medal from the award’s namesake, Australian tennis legend John Newcombe.

“It’s just unbelievable. It’s been the best year of my life bar none,” Alcott said on stage after collecting the award.

“(It’s amazing) to be given this award in honour of Newk, who’s such a tennis legend, someone that I looked up to when I was young, watching videos of him play.

“I’m not going to lie. I really wanted to win this award. Because we have an Athlete with a Disability category (at these awards), which is a huge honour, but I see myself as an elite athlete first and foremost who just happens to have a disability and uses a wheelchair to play.

“To be recognised for the highest honour, Newk, it means so much to me … this award absolutely smashes that glass ceiling for elite athletes with a disability.”

Awards MC Rove McManus alerted everyone to a landmark statistic accompanying Alcott’s win.

“When it comes to awards like this, as far as we know, this is the first time any athlete with a disability has taken out the major award for their sport. It’s an incredible accomplishment,” he said.

On court, Alcott began 2016 with wins in Brisbane and Sydney before successfully defending his Australian Open crown in Melbourne.

The world No.1 partnered with fellow Victorian Heath Davidson to win the World Team Cup in Tokyo before winning two Paralympic gold medals – in singles and doubles – in Rio.

His other titles in 2016 include the South Africa Open, Japan Open, Open de France and British Open.

Alcott is the fourth winner of the award in as many years, joining Sam Groth (2015), Nick Kyrgios (2014), Lleyton Hewitt (2013) and three-time winner Sam Stosur (2010-2012) on the Newcombe Medal honour roll.

Stosur, first time nominees Daria Gavrilova, John Millman and Jordan Thompson and doubles star John Peers were also in the running for the 2016 accolade.

“I want to thank all the other nominees: Daria, Sammy, Johnny Thrillman, Peersy, Jordie and all the players at Tennis Australia,” Alcott said.

“When I roll into the gym or the physio room you guys are always really supportive of everything I believe in and treat me like an elite athlete, like one of you guys. And I can’t thank you all enough for that – it really does mean a lot to me.”

The Newcombe Medal is the premier award presented on a night that recognises players, coaches, clubs, communities, volunteers and officials for their service to the sport in Australia.

The awards ceremony has been held annually since 2010.