The match at Melbourne Park was Australian Alcott's final appearance before he retires from competitive tennis.

Despite the loss, Alcott saluted the adoring home crowd which featured a large number of children with impairments.

"It's because of you all watching today that people like me get, not recognition, but are more integrated in society," Alcott said.

"To my community, thanks for always backing me - I hope to make you proud over the next 12 months.

"Thank you to every single person for changing my life, I appreciate it so much.

"I’m really the luckiest guy in the world, and I didn’t need to win today to realise that.

"It would have been nice to win, to be honest, but I’m still the luckiest person in this country, if not the luckiest person in the world."

Japanese legend Shingo Kunieda claimed his 11^th Australian Open men's wheelchair singles title with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win after a gruelling battle with Alfie Hewett of Britain, which lasted for two hours and 12 minutes.

The victory marked Kunieda's 47^th Grand Slam trophy in all.

Hewett had won the doubles tournament with compatriot Gordon Reid the day before and was struggling for fitness towards the latter stages of the duel.

"I'm not sure how much I've got left in the tank, I'm exhausted," Hewett said.

"What a battle out there today.

"Extremely gutted to not be sitting where Shingo is right now."

Diede de Groot won her 13^th overall and sixth straight Grand Slam singles title after breezing past compatriot and doubles partner Aniek van Koot 6-1, 6-1 in the all-Dutch women's wheelchair singles final.

The pair had combined to secure the doubles title in Victoria yesterday before De Groot produced a dominant display to double up.