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Dylan Alcott's farewell party has been spoiled with the wheelchair tennis legend bowing out of the sport with a defeat in the Australian Open final.

After a whirlwind 48 hours, the 2022 Australian of the Year was upset by Dutch second seed Sam Schroder in Thursday's quad decider at Rod Laver Arena.

After all the accolades and applause of recent days, Alcott fought hard but could not withstand an irresistible second-set charge from Schroder, losing 7-5 6-0 to end a seven-year run of dominance at Melbourne Park.

The 31-year-old admitted before the match he was "fried" after rushing to Canberra on Tuesday night directly following his semi-final win, soaking in the honour that came his way, and preparing for what he said was his "last dance".

Schroder worked Alcott all the way around the court, forcing the homegrown hero into making 31 unforced errors.

"The Australian Open, I love you so much ... thank you for changing my life but also backing someone who is disabled to be the front of your brand," the world No.1 said.

"You changed my life, but judging by that award I got a couple of days ago, maybe I helped changed some other lives as well."

Alcott received an unbelievable level of support in the stands, with last year's Australian of the Year Grace Tame watching on.

But what pleased Alcott most was the number of disabled people, a large number of them children, who were able to turn out for the final.

Host broadcaster Nine Network even held back TV news bulletins across the country to stick with Alcott's match until the end.

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

"It's because you, everyone watching here, that people like me, people with disability are getting the recognition and that we're integrated and involved in society.

"If you look up there in the stands and the number of people with disability that are here.

"That's the reason I get out of bed, it really is.

"To my community, thanks for always backing me, I hope I make you proud in the next 12 months as your Australian of the Year."

Alcott heads off into retirement and a busy year ahead in his new role as AOTY with 15 grand slam titles.

He completed an unprecedented golden slam last year, winning all four majors as well as the Tokyo Paralympics event.

Alcott's last words on Melbourne Park's centre court as a tennis player were: "Should I come back? Nah, just kidding".

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Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis are Australian Open finalists after the enigmatic box office act powered into an all-local doubles decider at Melbourne Park.

The Special Ks' semi-final was promoted to Rod Laver Arena after their giant-killing run on outside courts.

And the home hopes did not disappoint on centre stage.

Kyrgios and Kokkinakis outlasted third seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 in an hour and 47 minutes on Thursday.

The victory sets up an all-Australian final at the Australian Open for the first time since 1980 with Matt Ebden and Max Purcell taking down second seeds Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury 6-3 7-6 (11-9) in their semi-final.

Showing more focus and restraint than in previous matches on the raucous outside courts, the pair mostly let their irresistible tennis do the talking.

But it would not be a Kyrgios match without at least one blow-up.

The 26-year-old was furious late in the second set after facing two break points against his serve.

Kyrgios let out some expletives at himself, argued with the umpire about the net cord sensor and pleaded for the crowd to stop talking during serves, before smashing a racquet when he dropped the game.

But the pair were able to close out the match by breaking back, with Kokkinakis hitting the winning shot with a classy lob.

Kyrgios believed the atmosphere and the combination with great mate Kokkinakis had brought out his best, allowing them to stun established doubles partnerships.

"I think I've played pretty good tennis in the past," Kyrgios said.

"I've beaten pretty much every player that's picked up a racquet.

"I've obviously had to play a certain level of tennis.

"It's not like I'm going out there putting on a clown suit and creating a circus.

"I have also won big titles, and played the traditional way.

"I think now I'm able to channel a different fanbase."

The great Rod Laver, who only turns up for big matches on the court that is named in his honour, watched on from the front row, as did legendary Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh.

Kyrgios was always going to be quizzed on his last opponent, Michael Venus, after the New Zealander labelled him an "absolute knob" and declared the Canberran had the maturity level of a 10-year-old.

"I'm not going to destroy him (Venus) in this media conference right now, but Granollers and Zeballos are great players and I respect them a lot more than I respect Michael Venus," he said.

"Zeballos took a selfie with us before we walked out, that's how you embrace an atmosphere - not losing a match and getting salty about it afterwards."

The decider is set to take place on Saturday night, after the women's final, and Kokkinakis wants Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley to do his best to ensure the stadium is at capacity.

"Craig might not be happy with this -- but if that means dropping prices so we can fill the stands, whatever will get it packed," he said.

"The more the better, the atmosphere would be unreal."

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Former Seven Network television host Andrew O'Keefe will spend the night behind bars after he was charged with choking and assaulting a woman.

The 50-year-old presenter was arrested early on Thursday after getting into an argument with the 38-year-old woman on Tuesday in a Sydney CBD unit, police say.

He was refused bail to appear in Central Local Court on Friday to face two charges of intentionally choking a person, three of common assault, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The former Deal or No Deal host is accused of "grabbing her by the throat, pushing her to the ground and punching her", police said in a statement.

He allegedly then assaulted the woman for a second time by punching and kicking her again before she left the unit and reported the incident.

O'Keefe, a former lawyer and son of former NSW Supreme Court judge Barry O'Keefe, was a founding member of domestic violence charity, the White Ribbon Foundation, where he served as chairman in 2017.

The organisation - which went into liquidation in 2019 - said in a statement they were disappointed to hear of the allegations against O'Keefe, as with "many other distressing incidents of violence against women already this new year".

"We were dismayed to hear news that Andrew O'Keefe, who was previously aligned with White Ribbon Australia, was arrested following the alleged assault of a woman in Sydney on Tuesday."

The organisation had already distanced itself from the one-time ambassador last year and said it stands in solidarity with every victim and survivor or men's violence against women.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

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Five new lion cubs have been born at South Australia's Monarto Safari Park providing a boost to the threatened species.

Eight-year-old lioness Husani gave birth on Monday with the cubs and their mum doing well.

"She has been very attentive, licking and cleaning them and all five cubs have been moving around and we've seen them feeding and waddling around looking for mum's teat," assistant curator Anna Bennett said.

"Every birth at Monarto Safari Park is such a special event for us because our breeding programs are vital in raising awareness and securing the future of vulnerable species like African Lions."

The International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species estimates only between 23,000 and 39,000 of the lions remain in the wild.

The falling population has been attributed to indiscriminate killing, habitat loss and trophy hunting.

Keepers were able to watch Husani give birth using a camera in her den with the new arrivals to remain in an off-limits area at Monarto for the next few months.

At about four weeks old, they will be introduced to their aunties and their half-sisters, Chikondi, Adira and Zaha, who were Husani's first litter born in February 2020.

"The older girls have seen cubs before but it will be the first time for Husani's previous cubs, so it will all be new to them," Ms Bennett said.

"I'm sure there will be a lot of excitement and wanting to play."

At six weeks the cubs will receive their first health check, when keepers will be able to determine their sex.

Once ready to venture beyond their den, the little ones will make their debut in the park's lion exhibit.

The cubs represent the next generation in Monarto's breeding program, with Husani born at the park in 2013.

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