ITF

10 ITFWorld // WINTER 2018 Dylan Alcott is the second recipient of the quad ITF World Champion award after beating inaugural winner David Wagner in the race to finish the year as No. 1 in the rankings. The 28-year-old is no newcomer to the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour, having topped the world rankings in 2015, and over the past 12 months took his Grand Slam singles tally to six following triumphs at the Australian and US Opens. On both occasions, Alcott lifted silverware after beating Wagner in the final, while the Melbourne-born right-hander's exploits during 2018 saw him draw level with his rival in terms of Grand Slam singles crowns. He appears to have a particular penchant for the Australian Open, and has now won four singles titles at his home Slam, while he and compatriot Heath Davidson also tasted victory in the doubles there. Alcott's success in January formed a sequence of three successive victories at singles tournaments. He began the year by winning the Sydney Wheelchair Tennis Open and bookended glory at the Australian Open by dispatching all before him at the Cajun Classic. "It's been a memorable season, winning the Australian Open and US Open in the same year and then finishing by becoming NEC Masters champion for the first time," said Alcott. "It was a great way to earn the title of ITF World Champion and I'm so grateful to all my team and friends and family for their ongoing support. "I'm really excited for what 2019 has to bring, especially the new and exciting opportunities for the quad singles and doubles events at Wimbledon." I T F W O R L D C H A M P I O N S "I have definitely grown as a player and my play has improved a lot during the year" C L A R A B U R E L DYLAN ALCOTT DIEDE DE GROOT Diede de Groot is a first-time ITF World Champion following a stunning performance on the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour during 2018 which saw the 21-year-old trailblazer win eight of the 12 singles tournaments she contested. Contained within that victory march were three Grand Slam crowns at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open, all of which were secured without dropping a set. Grand Slam doubles titles were also seized at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and in New York. If at first you do not succeed, try, try – and in Clara Burel's case – try, try again. Burel is the girls' ITF Junior World Champion after a hugely productive 2018 which culminated in the 17-year-old finishing proceedings as the year-end global No. 1. "It means a lot to me to have finished 2018 as the world No. 1 because it shows that I've been the more consistent and solid player and accomplished some great things during the year," said Burel. "Becoming the ITF World Champion will help me with my future career. I have definitely grown as a player and my play has improved a lot during the year." It proved an undulating 12 months for Burel. The Rennes-born right-hander produced some stunning tennis but suffered a host of defeats in the finals of tournaments until finally bucking that trend at the ITF Junior Masters in Chengdu in October. Burel reached the final of two Junior Grand Slams, losing to Liang En Shuo of Chinese Taipei at the Australian Open and China's Wang Xiyu at the US Open, while she had to be content with a silver medal at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. Double goal medallist Kaja Juvan of Slovenia was her conqueror in Argentina, while prior to that she had also tasted defeat in the decisive clash at the $25,000 Clermont-Ferrand – the first Pro Circuit final she had contested in her career. But then came the ITF Junior Masters and it was time for redemption. Brushing aside Maria Camila Osorio Serrano and Eleonora Molinaro in the round-round phase, together with a walkover against then world No.1 Wang Xiyu, Burel reached the semifinals. A cathartic triumph over Liang followed as she gained revenge for that Australian Open setback, before Burel crushed Osorio Serrano in the final to end the seemingly interminable wait to get her hands on silverware. Victory here was enough for Burel to usurp Wang Xiyu as world No. 1. Burel is the first French girl to be crowned ITF Junior World Champion since Kristina Mladenovic in 2009. CLARA BUREL

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