Amritha, women's tennis champ

Anuradha ABEYSEKERA

Amritha Muttiah won the national women's singles title when she defeated Nilushi Fernando in the final match (7/5,6/2) when the 96th Tennis Nationals proceeded for the sixth day at the Sri Lanka Tennis association hard courts yesterday. In the men's singles first semi final, two Davis Cup players battled and top seed T. Dineshkanthan out pointed Vimuktha de Alwis after a close fight (6/3,6/2,3/6,6/3). Dineshkanthan will meet Amresh Jayawickrema who beat Tanveer Ashiq in the second semi final (6/2,7/6(3),6/4) on Saturday's final.

Upali Rajakaruna will take on Sunil Perera in the wheelchair tennis singles first semi final while D. M. Gamini will compete with Mahanama Basnayake in the other semi.

Other results:

men's doubles semi finals: Sankha Athukorale with Harshana Godamanna beat Roshan De Silva and Artha Hewacottage - 6/3, 6/3, 6/3.

Amresh Jayawickrema and Jayendra Wijesekara beat Heera Ashiq and Taveer Ashiq - 7/6, 6/4, 6/7, 4/6, 5/3(advantage to Amresh and Jayendra, opponents retired) mixed doubles semi finals: Shalani De Silva and T Dineshkanthan beat Nilushi Fernando and Artha Hewacottage 4/6, 7/5, 6/2

Wheelchair men's doubles semi finals:

Mahanama Basnayake and Upali Rajakaruna beat Wasantha Balasuriya and H. M. L. Senarathna 6/2,6/3.

D. M. gamini and Sunil Perera beat T. B. Nandasena and W. M. N. Wanninayaka 6/1,6/0