Australian tennis champion Dylan Alcott was sublime successful his semi-final quad wheelchair singles triumph implicit Dutchman Niels Vink astatine the Tokyo Paralympics.
But the three-time Paralympic golden medallist whitethorn person been adjacent much awesome successful his clasp with his rival aft the match, successful which helium kept his aspirations of achieving a aureate slam alive.
After defeating his 18-year-old hostile 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, Alcott wheeled astir to his rival's broadside of the nett and the brace of exhausted players embraced successful an affectional moment.
As the brace hugged for respective seconds, 30-year-old Alcott patted Vink connected his caput and back, his rival soaking up an unthinkable infinitesimal with a antheral helium idolised.
"He's fractional my age, what a small fable helium is, Niels," Alcott said.
"I cognize helium work my publication increasing up, I sent him a day video for his 18th (birthday), we're mates.
"When I hugged him astatine the extremity helium was successful tears. He wouldn't fto spell and I conscionable said I was truthful arrogant of him, however good helium played.
"I'm conscionable truthful arrogant of him."
Alcott volition quadrate disconnected with Dutchman Sam Schroder successful the gold-medal lucifer tomorrow.
He said helium was zeroing successful connected the decider connected the backmost of a memorable semi-final.
"That was the champion lucifer I person ever been a portion of," Alcott said.
"It was special."
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