13 January 2016 | Tennis Victoria

Dual Grand Slam Champion Dylan Alcott will look to continue his stellar start to 2016 when he returns to his hometown for the Swisse Melbourne Wheelchair Tennis Open next week.

Fresh from claiming the Queensland Wheelchair Tennis Open for the second year running, Alcott will headline the third event on the 2016 Australian Wheelchair Tennis Summer Series which begins next Monday, January 18 at the Hume Tennis and Community Centre in Craigieburn.

The event also acts as a qualifying tournament for the 2016 Rio Paralympics and will feature athletes from Belgium, France, Great Britain, Holland, South Africa, South Korea, Argentina, and China.

Hume City Council Mayor Mrs Helen Patsikatheodorou was thrilled that the Australian Paralympic champion would play in the open.

“Dylan has inspired so many people around the world and has become a real advocate for people with disabilities,” said Cr Patsikatheodorou. “He played crucial roles in the Australian Rollers basketball team which won gold at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics and silver at the 2012 London Paralympics.”

Alcott’s 2015 accolades also include winning Tennis Australia’s Most Outstanding Athlete with a Disability, the Victorian Institute of Sport’s Award of Excellence and was the first athlete with a disability to be nominated for the Newcombe Medal.

The Swisse Melbourne Wheelchair Tennis Open will follow Tennis Australia’s Junior Tour Tournament for able-bodied players.

A total of 210 young and aspiring tennis stars will take part in the competition between 14 and 16 January 2016.

“Hume City Council completed the construction of the centre last year, and it includes 16 tennis courts which can each be flood-lit.

“A total of 14 courts feature the blue plexi-cushion that is used at the Australian Open, and two courts offer the red clay surface of the French Open.

“The centre includes a café, pro shop, and function rooms, and Hume City Council is thrilled that it will host two big events just months after opening.

“I’d personally like to wish all tennis competitors well as they compete at the Hume Tennis and Community Centre, and call on residents to pop by and cheer the players on,” said Cr Patsikatheodorou.

Both events will be coordinated by Tennis Australia, as well as Complete Tennis Services, which operates the Hume Tennis and Community Centre.

For further information, visit www.humetennis.com.au or view the flyer.