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Dylan Alcott claims fourth-straight Australian Open wheelchair title

Dylan Alcott. Michael Dodge/Getty Images

Dylan Alcott has claimed a fourth-straight Australian Open crown, defeating top-seeded American David Wagner in the quad wheelchair singles final.

Parochial support on Rod Laver Arena cheered their home-town hero to a 7-6 (7-1) 6-1 success in 90 minutes.

While it was the same result as every year since 2015, Alcott said his 2018 success came with extra trimmings.

The five-time Paralympic gold medallist's semi-final with rival and great mate Heath Davidson was played on Friday night on Melbourne Park's centre court, beamed to an audience of hundreds of thousands on the Seven Network.

It was a breakthrough moment for disability sport that Alcott cherished.

"I remember when I was a little kid I used to ask my parents and brother why I never saw anyone like me on TV.

"Kids today won't have to ask that.

"That means the absolute world to me."

On Saturday, the 27-year-old didn't look back from the first tiebreak.

After a first-set arm wrestle, Alcott conceded the first point of the tiebreak but raced away with the next seven to claim the set.

With razor-sharp focus, Alcott won the second set in 32 minutes, making just three unforced errors on the way.

This was no walkover - Wagner was pushing the Melburnian to his limits.

A stunning run-down of a drop shot and last-gasp winner denied Wagner a break point at a crucial moment in the second set.

Alcott's success turned the tables on the pair's earlier meeting at Melbourne Park, when Wagner won their group-stage meeting in three tight sets.

"Thanks to Dave," Alcott said of Wagner, a previous title winner at Melbourne Park, "I bloody love playing you - it's always such a tough battle."