It's a hard task to find someone to fill the shoes of Dylan Alcott.
That is at least the challenge for Heath Davidson, the man charged with leading Australia's wheelchair tennis on the world tour as attention turns from the red dirt of Roland-Garros to the green grass of Wimbledon.
Last week's French Open was the first occasion Davidson had appeared in a grand slam event without his best friend, Alcott, who retired after the Australian Open in January, just two days after becoming 2022 Australian of the Year.
The highest-ranked and sole Australian to take home any silverware at the Roland-Garros across any format, Davidson finished runner-up in the men's quad wheelchair doubles alongside his new Brazilian teammate, Ymanitu Silva, and also advanced to the semifinals in singles on debut at the event.
"I'm pretty happy I get to take home some silverware, and my first big bit of silverware without Dyl," Davidson said.
"We weren't expected to make the final in doubles … [I'm] really happy to just finally be able to play [at the French Open]."
Touring 'a little bit' quieter without Alcott
Being the only Australian in the quads section of the grand slam draw — and one of few Aussies left across all draws in the second week — is unfamiliar territory for Davidson.
"It's quiet man. It's different … it's really weird because Dylan and myself have been mates for 20 to 21 years and I've never played tennis without Dylan around, so this year it's been very different," he said.
"We had a couple of FaceTime's last week. He rang me because he watched my singles match against Koji (Sugeno) and sort of just said on the phone, 'Where's this guy been? We could have used him the last five years!'
"It's just different. No better, no worse. But yeah, it's just a little bit quieter, I guess you could say."
With Alcott gone, Davidson had to adapt to being in the spotlight at Roland-Garros, and he now looks towards Wimbledon later in the month.
As the leader on the court alongside new teammate "Mani", he's still developing his craft, even at 35 years old.
"It's a very different role. I'm not used to being 'the general' on court and calling the shots," he said.
"I like playing with Mani. I think that's a really different role for me as I was always sort of, I don't want to say the guy in the shadows, but I just let Dylan do his thing.
"I had my role, he had his, and I think we did that pretty well for so long. But now that I'm not playing with Dylan, I think I've become more of the captain on the court.
"But I'm enjoying it at the moment … it's making me grow as a tennis player I think more than anything.
"Being the one to navigate what we're doing on court and stuff like that is helping me learn some new skills on the court and make me a better player."
Davidson talked out of retirement by best in the world
The four-time Australian Open doubles champion, now in the twilight of his career, admitted he was talked out of retirement as recently as last week after a loss to world number one Dutchman Niels Vink.
"[I said], 'If I keep playing for another 10 years, you're probably going to have a really good head-to-head record against me and I don't want that.'"
For now, Davidson can still cut it with the rest despite the rigours of the world tour and the lure of returning home.
"I'm getting old. Personally, I average between five to six months away a year," he said.
"But I don't know, man. After last week, I'm starting to think maybe I can go around for a little bit longer."
"If I keep playing tennis, the way I'm playing and improving and can hang with those guys, then there's a glimmer of hope for me hanging around. So we'll see what happens."
"And the other glimmer of hope is me convincing Dylan to come back.
A passion to grow disability sports for the next generation
For the first time, the French Open opened its draw size to eight competitors in the singles draw.
Davidson is passionate about seeing the sport grow and inspiring the next generation in disability sports.
In May, he was hitting twice a week with Australia's wheelchair juniors, who went on to win the World Team Cup title.
"It's really cool that all the slams — and even just looking at quad tennis and even normal wheelchair tennis — are opening up draw sizes to give more people opportunities and showing everyone we are professional athletes," he said.
"I think we're doing really well back at home. If I can help in any way, shape or form, encourage kids with disabilities to get out on court, then I'm more than happy to."
