ANDY Murray has been hailed after sending a heartfelt message to a fellow tennis legend.
The Scot hailed retiring Australian player Dylan Alcott as a “rock star and inspiration” after his final ever professional match.
Quad wheelchair tennis star Alcott has won the Australian Open seven times and was named this year’s “Australian of the year”.
The Paralympian and disability advocate played his last ever match in this year’s final, losing to Sam Schroder of the Netherlands 7-5 6-0 in the Rod Laver Arena.
In an emotional post-match press conference, he read out the message from Murray.
The 31-year-old said: “I hope he doesn't mind this, but Andy Murray just messaged me: ‘I don't know if I have articulated that well, but you're an absolute rock star and inspiration. Thanks for everything you've done’.
“That kills me. Makes me want to cry. Special. You're part of it. Just part of it. Like I don't even care you're in a wheelchair. They don't give a ****.
“It's special. It's so nice. It's like that everywhere here. I never thought that would happen. It's cool, really cool. It's better than winning a tennis tournament.
“This is a legend of the sport, wheelchair tennis. If it's good enough for someone like that, it's good enough for everyone.”
Anyone else become a blubbering mess after watching Dylan Alcott get a text from Andy Murray #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/EJNgTbYXH9
— Jacinta Lee (@jacinta_lee3) January 27, 2022
READ MORE: 5 times Andy Murray proved he shouldn't just 'stick to tennis'
Fellow Australian tennis star Ashleigh Barty also paid tribute to Alcott after defeating Madison Keys in the women’s semi-final.
She said: "He’s inspired a nation, he’s inspired the whole globe.
"We were watching his match today and I was with my physio about an hour before coming out and when he was saying his acceptance speech we were both crying. I was like s**t like I need to get out here and get ready, get a game on.
"But I just wanted to watch Dylan. For him to be able to share that moment with so many people here. And like you said you look around and the way that he and the Australian Open have worked together to open up the opportunities for disabled people all around the world to play tennis and to have a go is just exceptional. I couldn’t be more proud of him."
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