Rajeev and Amrit clash in men's singles final

Sanjaya Ariyaratne

TENNIS: Top seed Rajeev Rajapakse and Amrit Rupasinghe will meet in the men's singles final of the 92nd Sri Lanka National Tennis Championships at the National Tennis Courts, Green Path, Colombo on Sunday.

The former beat seed number three Shanka Athukorale while the latter beat Dinusha Wijesuriya.

Twenty year old Amrit's success was more important as he beat fourth seeded Dinusha Wijesuriya while creating a major upset in the men's singles semi finals. Rupasinghe a former junior Sri Lankan player now based in United States playing for the Maine University of America played in Sri Lanka Nationals in 2002 and 2005 for the last time. In 2005 he also emerged under 18 champion.

Amrit conceded the first 3/6 and won the other sets under pressure, however he made a stirring comeback and took the second set 6/2 to keep his hopes alive. In the third set he held his nerve and delivered the final blow with a superb 6/2 victory in the decider.

In his way to finals he toppled another seeded player Zaw Zaw Latt after a three setter battle which went the full distance 6/3, 2/6, 7/6.

Rajapakse saw leading in both sets which saw him to a 6/4, 6/0 win over Atukorale. Seed number three Amritha Muttiah stunned bottom seed Nilupul Goonasekara after a weary three setter semi final 6/7, 7/6, 6/3 in the women's singles.

In the other semi final top seed Jithmie Jayawickrame routed Thavindra Ishani Ekanayake 6/2, 6/0 to meet A. Muttiah in the final. Shenalie Weerasekara partnered by Nishendiran Sivendran created a major upset by beating seed number three Shalini Pereira and Rohan de Silva.

Other Results: Men's doubles- U. Hewacottage and Gayanga Weerasekara beat Rukmal Cooray and S. Fransis 7/5, 6/3, Sohan Patrick and Sasith Wickramasinghe beat M. Damien and Volker Thankwann (6/2, 6/1), Z.Z. Latt and D. Wijesuriya beat R.A. Jayawickrame and J. Wijesekara (6/0, 6/1), Ashan de Silva and Jayaseelan beat K. Thangarajah and N. Neydorff (6/2,6/3).

Women's doubles- S. Weerasekara and Shalini Perera beat K. Herath and R. Fernando (6/0,6/1), N. Goonasekara and A. Muttiah received a walk over.