Lapthorne proud of performance despite Australian Open final defeat

Andy Lapthorne labelled it a day he would never forget, despite being defeated by Dylan Alcott in the final of the Australian Open quad singles.

The three-time Paralympic medallist was beaten 6-0 6-4 by his some-time doubles partner Alcott, who made it six titles in a row at the Melbourne championships.

And though the result means that the 29-year-old leaves Australia with a pair of runners-up medals after he and David Wagner were beaten by Alcott and Heath Davidson in the doubles on Thursday, Lapthorne paid tribute to the exceptional support from the stands as he looks to inspire the next generation.

“I’ve been coming here for years and cheering on Andy Murray and hearing ‘come on Andy’ on this court so many times, so for that Andy to be me today, you have no idea,” he said.

“I might have lost today, but that will live with me forever.

“If there’s one disabled person at home that’s watching this and wondering if they should go for their dreams, we are proof down here that you should.

“I was up there the other night, watching Nick Kyrgios and cheering on Nick, and now I’m sitting on the court myself in front of this amazing crowd. If there’s anyone out there, just go for it.”

Elsewhere in Melbourne, Gordon Reid’s wheelchair singles final against Shingo Kunieda was postponed after heavy rain.