Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott excited ahead of retirement match at Melbourne Park

Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott says he will still «go out on a high» regardless of the result in his final match before he retires from tennis.

Alcott plays Dutchman Sam Schröder in the Australian Open quad wheelchair singles final on Thursday.

He announced late last year the tournament would mark his tennis retirement.

It will cap off a whirlwind few days for Alcott, who last night was announced as 2022 Australian of the Year at a ceremony held in Canberra, only hours after winning his semifinal at Melbourne Park.

Having returned to Melbourne, Alcott continued to meet his media commitments this morning just over 24 hours before he takes to the court against Schröder as he chases his eighth consecutive Australian Open singles championship.

Paralympian and tennis player Dylan Alcott is named 2022 Australian of the Year.

«Shit, I got to play tennis tomorrow, don't I? Forgot about that,» Alcott joked with reporters at Melbourne Park.

«It's the last dance: win, lose or draw. I want to win, but I will live if I don't win. I'm still the luckiest guy in the world if I don't win.»

Alcott said he could not wait to play the final on Rod Laver Arena, with the crowd capacity having been increased to 65 per cent .

«I'm so excited to go out on a high,» he said.

«That doesn't mean winning. That means it's still going to be a high. I'm really excited, I really am.»

Alcott said he would have no trouble finding the energy to be at his best in the final.

«I'm playing the Australian Open for the last time in my home city, trying to win an eighth Australian Open,» he said.

«I'll get up, don't worry about that.

»I'm the luckiest guy in the world for what I'm going to get to do tomorrow. When you are grateful for those opportunities, you find energy