'Dylan Alcott effect': Rising teen tennis star to make Australian Open debut

[ad_1] In 2018, eight-year-old Jin Woodman tossed the coin within the first spherical of the Australian Open males's quad singles, bright-eyed and beaming.

He by no means thought that seven years later, he can be competing in the principle draw himself.

However following within the paths of his childhood inspirations, Dylan Alcott and Heath Davidson, that dream will grow to be a actuality after he earned a wildcard spot in his dwelling Grand Slam subsequent 12 months — at solely 15 years previous.

It was a formidable run on the 2024 Australian Wheelchair Tennis Nationwide Championships in November that did it, the place he gained three titles and climbed to quantity 20 on this planet.

Heath Davidson (left) and Jin Woodman. ( Equipped )

He is quantity 4 in juniors and the youngest participant within the high 25.

"To be very younger … it means quite a bit," Woodman informed ABC Sport.

"Simply wait till after I attain 18: I might go large, possibly high 10."

"[To have] have pals, household, whoever supporting me, on the facet. [It] does not matter if I win or lose, it'll be a terrific success for me."

Woodman may even headline the inaugural junior wheelchair event on the Open, which comes off the again of rising reputation within the sport.

The rising reputation is one thing Tennis Australia places all the way down to the "Dylan Alcott impact".

Heath Davidson and Dylan Alcott have impressed a brand new crop of wheelchair tennis gamers. ( Pat Scala/Getty Pictures )

Wheelchair tennis has skilled a couple of 50 per cent enhance prior to now 5 years in its elite junior pathway, leading to Australia presently having extra ranked gamers in wheelchair tennis than another nation.

Within the junior rankings, Australia has 4 gamers contained in the boys' and women' high 10 — 4 boys and one lady.

Davidson, who has 4 Australian Open quad doubles titles and two Paralympic medals alongside Alcott, stated the game had grown immensely since he was Woodman's age.

Dylan Alcott and Heath Davidson, silver medalists on the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. ( Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Pictures )

"Because the years have gone on, and given the truth that Dylan was in all probability one of the fashionable wheelchair tennis gamers round, it is simply drawn so many younger youngsters into our sport," Davidson stated.

"Which is superior, as a result of wheelchair tennis might be the largest sport for incapacity in the meanwhile. We get probably the most worldwide recognition [and] we play in Grand Slam tournaments, similar to the able-bodied gamers do.

"So I am joyful that the youthful era are falling in love with the game that I fell in love with so a few years in the past."

Tennis Australia's chief tennis officer Tom Larner, stated it wasn't simply Alcott and Davidson, however David Corridor earlier than them, who claimed 17 Grand Slam singles titles over his 20-year-old profession in wheelchair tennis.

"It is actually pleasing to see we have folks gamers behind him which might be persevering with to maintain that momentum within the development of the game," Larner stated.

"And [Jin at] 15 years previous, that is fairly superb. [There are] not many Australians who play in important draw within the Australian Open at 15 in any kind. So to attain that …there's going to be big crowd behind him."

Jin Woodman, 15, gained three titles on the 2024 Australian Wheelchair Tennis Nationwide Championships in November. ( ABC/Mietta Adams )

Reflecting this rising reputation, Wimbledon and the Australian Open elevated wheelchair tennis draw sizes.

In 2024, males's and ladies's wheelchair attracts doubled in measurement on the All England Membership.

"We're actually pushing and breaking, as certainly one of my greatest mates Dylan likes to say, glass ceilings down," Davidson stated.

"And we're showcasing that we're skilled athletes, similar to able-bodied athletes. We put within the work and we should be recognised like them, too."

Heath Davidson and Jin Woodman, 2024. ( ABC/Mietta Adams )

There's an opportunity Davidson and Woodman might meet one another in the principle draw on the Open, a prospect the latter is extra enthusiastic about than the previous.

"I am beginning to get a little bit bit petrified of this younger man. He is beginning to take over the reins, so it is type of like I am not fairly able to cross on the torch," Davidson stated.

"However I imply, if he will get any higher, I feel he would possibly simply come and seize it off me to be trustworthy.

"He is simply fearless on the tennis court docket. He goes for his pictures, and he is passionate. He loves the game."

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