Tennis champion Dylan Alcott sends brutal sledge to Spanish player as Ash Barty wins her first match

Tennis champion Dylan Alcott has slammed Spanish star Feliciano Lopez saying he has a ‘spare wheelchair’ for the ‘struggling’ player, as Ash Barty secured a strong wins on day one of the 2022 Australian Open. 

Alcott was commentating with Todd Woodbridge on the opening night of the Grand Slam when he commented on the Spaniard’s diminishing physical form.

The veteran player was competing against Australian John Millman, who will enter the next round after a four-set victory over his opponent. 

‘Lopez struggling, grimacing after each point. I’ve got a spare wheelchair in the locker room. I reckon he’s about an hour away,’ Alcott said of Feliciano Lopez (pictured) on Monday night

Dylan Alcott (pictured) came down hard on Lopez, who he said at 6-1 6-3 had little chance of a comeback against the energetic Aussie

Alcott came down hard on Lopez, who he said at 6-1 6-3 had little chance of a comeback against the energetic Aussie. 

‘They look in a different stratosphere in terms of what is going on physically. John is up and about, really using his energy,’ he said during Channel Nine’s coverage. 

‘Lopez struggling, grimacing after each point. I’ve got a spare wheelchair in the locker room. I reckon he’s about an hour away.’

His fellow commentator told Alcott: ‘Only you can get away with that.’

Millman is now due to play the winner of a match between Alexander Zverev and Daniel Altmaier. 

Alcott himself will aim to win an eighth successive title in Wheelchair Quad Singles, after he announced his would retire from tennis after the Australian Open. 

John Millman (pictured) is now due to play the winner of Alexander Zverev and Daniel Altmaier

World No.1 Ash Barty (pictured) has made it into the second round after spending only 54 minutes on court at the Rod Laver Arena on Monday night

Barty won a resounding victory over Ukrainian player Lesia Tsurenko in straight sets of 6-0 6-1, much to the delight of her Australian fans in the stands

If he wins at the tournament he will be adding to his extensive collection of 15 Grand Slam singles titles and eight doubles titles. 

‘I feel like I’ve done everything I need to do on the tennis court,’ Alcott recently revealed.

Meanwhile, world No.1 Ash Barty has made it into the second round after spending only 54 minutes on court at the Rod Laver Arena on Monday night. 

Barty won a resounding victory over Ukrainian player Lesia Tsurenko in straight sets of 6-0 6-1 much to the delight of Aussies cheering in the stands. 

The Wimbledon champion took just 24 minutes to claim the first set, dropping only 12 points, before claiming victory on the court in under an hour. 

The Wimbledon champion took just 24 minutes to claim the first set, dropping only 12 points, before claiming victory over Tsurenko (pictured) in under an hour

The win means Barty will most likely meet with defending champion Naomi Osaka (pictured) in the fourth round, who earlier on Monday won her first match in straight sets

The Aussie favourite will play Lucia Bronzetti on Wednesday after the Italian qualifier beat Russia’s Varvara Gracheva 3-6 6-2 6-3.

It’s the third consecutive year Barty has competed as the favourite on her home soil but the player is determined to keep her cool this Grand Slam. 

‘I think I’m probably more relaxed before I walk out onto court, but once I do walk out there, it’s, for me, always a little bit of a dry mouth and it’s exciting to know that we are warming up to play the Australian Open,’ she said.

‘You have to be able to enjoy these moments and certainly not take them for granted. So I think it’s probably a little bit twofold.’ 

The win means Barty will most likely meet with defending champion Naomi Osaka in the fourth round, who earlier on Monday won her first match in straight sets.