U.S. Open Live: Daniil Medvedev Routs Novak Djokovic for Championship

De Groot defeated Yui Kamiji of Japan, 6-3, 6-2, in Louis Armstrong Stadium to complete the Slam, which has been possible in wheelchair tennis only since 2016, when Wimbledon introduced a singles competition.

De Groot, 24, thanked the U.S. Open for showcasing her final in one of its biggest stadiums.

“That’s the kind of attitude that we need as wheelchair tennis players: to play on the big stage, play our singles match on Armstrong, that’s just such a professional move,” de Groot said. “Those kind of things are needed for us as players to keep improving as well.”

“I think it motivates us,” she added. “We will work harder when people work harder for us.”

De Groot was followed into Armstrong by Dylan Alcott of Australia, who completed his own Golden Slam in quad singles, beating Niels Vink of the Netherlands, 7-5, 6-2.

Vink, 18, is one of the brightest young talents in wheelchair tennis, and he expressed contentment with his result, calling Alcott’s Golden Slam “insane.”

“Losing to the big boy, I’m happy with my second place,” Vink said.

Like De Groot, Alcott thanked organizers for putting the wheelchair finals on a major court.

“Hopefully changing the lives of millions of people with disabilities around the world, that they can see themselves on the big stage doing what they love, so thank you very much,” Alcott said.

After thanking a list of practically everyone he had ever met, Alcott’s voice began to crack with emotion.

“I just can’t believe I just won the Golden Slam,” he said, resting his head on the microphone as he collected himself. “I used to hate myself so much. I hated my disability, and I didn’t even want to be here anymore. And I found tennis, and it changed and saved my life. And now I’ve become the only male ever, in any form of tennis, to win the Golden Slam, which is pretty cool. I just want to thank everybody here in New York for coming out and supporting us.”

Alcott, 30, then hinted at retirement from the sport.

“I’m going to be upfront: I don’t know if I’ll be back here,” Alcott told the crowd. “So I really appreciate everything, I love you so much, and thanks for making a young, fat, disabled kid with a really bad haircut, thanks for making his dreams come true. Because I can’t believe that I just did it.”

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/09/12/sports/us-open-final-djokovic-medvedev/