Lapthorne eyes quad joy before transworld dash to see beloved West Ham
Great Britain's Andy Lapthorne is 34 years old and has played tennis in wheelchair tennis's quad division seemingly forever. He first played the Australian Open in 2008 and knows its routines well.
So well in fact that should he reach Saturday’s quad singles final he is planning the most audacious of weekend sporting doubles.
Saturday part one goes like this: play in, and ideally win, the quad final. The major problem is that the No. 2 seed Niels Vink of Netherlands lies in wait in round two. That said, Lapthorne has not accumulated 17 Grand Slam titles across singles and doubles without knowing a thing or two about winning.
Saturday part two: trophy in the bag, head to Melbourne airport that evening and fly back to Heathrow (the time difference is in his favour). Once he has landed, head north pronto up the M40 and M6 to Birmingham to watch his Premier League football team West Ham United play against Aston Villa at Villa Park. Kick-off is 4.30pm UK time.
“Hopefully play the final here on Saturday and try and get home for the game on Sunday, that’s the aim,” he said. “I might be able to make it and the flight lands at Heathrow at midday.”
All good on paper but do you have a ticket?
“I’ve always got a ticket," he replied.
Lapthorne is quite simply top value. He has, he says, just two or three years left playing on the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour, the grind of long-haul travel and being away from home for extended periods is taking its toll and a change, or refresh is due. Indeed, in September he announced that Paris 2024 was to be his last Paralympic Games.
Lapthorne conceded that an on-the-road life makes it difficult to hold down a relationship or just lead a normal life. On the cover of his mobile phone is a photo of his dog, a rescue cross between a springer and a King Charles.
“I miss my dog an awful lot which makes it tougher to go away. I miss routine of going for walks with him,” he said.
The playing tank is not yet running on empty, however.
“I feel like I am right in the mix, I have to keep that belief and cherish every moment now because there’s only a few years left," he added. "I want to peak for Wimbledon this year.
"I’ll carry on for as long as I can. It’s been a massive part of my life, you never want to stop but today was very difficult.”
Indeed the conditions for his 6-3 6-3 win over the Argentinian qualifier Gonzalo Enrique Lazarte were uninviting, Court No. 15 a distant outpost and a bright, near 30 degree heat in the midday sun.
“There’s not much more you can put your body through," he explained. "I want to be at the Slams for a good while yet, so I’ll make sure I am fresh enough to come in here and compete. There are definitely more years behind me than in front of me.”
He has not, he said, had a January at home since he was 18. But the benefits can be many and varied.
He has stayed for example at Melbourne’s, rather splendid, Grand Hyatt hotel for years.
“The people there are amazing," he said. "When I have won, there’s always been something waiting in the room for me. I love coming here.”