Back at the Australian Open for a seventh appearance, home hope Dylan Alcott won his sixth consecutive title at Melbourne Park, marking his 10^th major title in the quad wheelchair event – and beginning the drive for the Golden Slam, with the Tokyo Paralympics set for later this year.

Inside Rod Laver Arena, Alcott avenged a loss in last year’s US Open final to Briton Andy Lapthorne with a 6-0, 6-4 triumph in a match that tightened as it went on.

With Wimbledon adding quad events last season and the US Open holding its event in a Paralympic year for a first time, Alcott has the chance to make more history than usual.

“I'd be lying if I said I didn't want it,” said Alcott, 29. “That's the goal, but I can't demand that of myself. All I can demand is me being the best Dylan. If I can do that, mate, I'll be stoked I think. We'll see what happens. A lot of tennis still to go.”

Once again at the AO, Alcott has played a lot of tennis, escaping unscathed in five matches overall. He and partner Heath Davidson won the doubles crown over Lapthorne and American David Wagner, their third straight title together, while also winning all four of his singles matches.

“I hate Hawk-Eye,” joked Lapthorne on court, referencing his challenge on match point down.

He then spoke openly and with emotion about the incredible atmosphere he and Alcott played in front of, which included a crowd of several thousand.

“Congrats to Dylan, unbelievable achievement to win here again… unreal,” he said. “I’ve been coming here for years and hearing ‘C’mon Andy!’ on this court for Andy Murray. For that to be me today, that will live with me forever. If there’s one disabled person watching this around the world, we are proof that you should go for your dreams. Just go for it. I was sitting up there the other night cheering on Nick Kyrgios and now I’m down here on court.”

Four players who weren’t on court were the wheelchair singles finalists - Shingo Kunied and Gordon Reid, Yui Kamiji and Aniek van Koot - as the rainy weather that was forecast hovered over Melbourne throughout the day and into the evening.

Both those singles finals have been re-scheduled for Sunday, when Kunieda will try to win his 44^th major title overall and tie Esther Vergeer’s all-time record.

Alcott, for his own good, will do his best to avoid thinking about his own record and the chase for the golden Slam this year. It was just last year that his focus was winning the calendar Slam (all four majors in one year) and he felt it tripped him up at the US Open: He lost in the final, one match away from completing said feat.

Lapthorne defeated Alcott with the loss of just one game. It made Saturday’s win that much more impactful.

“It feels awesome,” he told reporters. “I really stuffed up the US Open. I was pretty devastated, like gutted, hated myself, hated tennis a bit. I worked really hard on myself since then.”

It’s a new year, new Dylan, indeed. While his profile in Australia has grown with his work as a Channel 9 commentator and the face of several advertising campaigns, the change, actually, is the mental side, and his commitment not to look too far ahead – or get caught up in the big-picture scenarios.

He’s working with Ben Crowe, Ashleigh Barty’s mental coach.

“I probably went into (last year’s) US Open, I hadn't had to use the things I normally used in terms of my mental game because I'd had such a great year,” Alcott recalled. “When I needed it, it wasn't there because I hadn't practiced it. You have to practice your mindset every day. It was a real wake-up call. I'm really stoked (Crowe) answered my call. We worked together. I was there today. I think he would have been proud because I came out there with a really good mindset.”

Alcott shared on court that he and his team would donate $40,000 AUD to those with disabilities affected by the bushfires here in Australia, and also thanked the crowd for their support on the day – and through the years.

“When I was younger, tennis saved my life, it really did,” he said. “And now, the Australian Open has changed my life. It’s the most inclusive of the Grand Slams, to back us the way that they do. I love every single one of you for supporting what we do.”

While the crowd support for Alcott was massive, he had one more well-wisher as he posed for photos with the champion’s trophy: Seven-time men’s singles winner Novak Djokovic, who was just coming on court for his Saturday practice.

“I always say to him, ‘Mate, I'm only one behind you,’” Alcott joked. “But then guess what he does? He then wins (another). We'll see what happens coming up in the next night.”