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Sri Lanka Open Weelchair Tennis:
Rajakaruna proves his supremacy
Anuradha ABEYSEKERA
Sri Lankan number one player Upali Rajakaruna fought fiercely after
losing the first set (4/6) to win the men's single title, beating South
African player Evans Maripa (4/6, 6/3, 6/4) in the fifth Sri Lanka Open
Wheelchair Tennis Championship Main Draw final which worked off at the
Sri Lank Tennis Association (SLTA) courts recently.
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Upali Rajakaruna receives his award
from Sri Lanka Wheelchair Tennis Committee Chairman
P.S. Kumara |
Rajakaruna who has shown a great improvement in recent past has
ranked 68 in the world and has defeated world No 46 Maripa after tough
contest. Maripa played well to win the first set without much trouble,
but did not able to maintain the lead as Rajakaruna fought back with an
aggressive attack in the following sets.
Rajakaruna booked his place in the men's singles final by beating Sri
Lankan second best D.M. Gamini in the semifinal game (6/3, 7/6 (2))
while Maripa tamed Robinson Mendez of Chile in the other semi final
(3/6, 6/2, 6/4).
The men's single consolation final has been won by Abusamah Borhan of
South Africa beating Diego Perez of Chile (6/1, 6/1).
Meanwhile the women's singles final had been an all Chinese Taipe
affair where Chia-Yi-Lu beat her team-mate Yi-Shan-Wu (6/2, 6/4). Taipe
players dominated in the women's events and won the doubles title and
singles consolation final as well. Japan and Chile combination clinched
the men's doubles crown as Fujimoto Yoshinobu (Japan) with Robinson
Mendez (Chile) trounced the South African pair Maripa and Sydwell
Mathonsi (6/2, 4/6, 11-9 -Rtd).
Chia-Yi-Lu and Yi-Shan-Wu (Taipe) bagged the women's doubles title
defeating South African opponents Celia Cu Toit with Rosalea Vander Meer
in the final (6/1, 6/2).
SLTA has conducted the tournament in collaboration with International
Tennis Federation as a part of the NEC Series. Altogether 11 countries
including Malaysia, South Africa, Ukraine, Indonesia, Chile, Japan,
Australia, Chile, Chinese Taipe, India and Sri Lanka have participated
in the tournament.
[Results]
Men's single final:
Upali Rajakaruna (SL) beat Evans Maripa (SA) - (4/6, 6/3, 6/4)
Men's double final:
Fujimoto Yoshinobu (Japan) with Robinson Mendez (Chile) beat Evans
Maripa and Sydwell Mathonsi (SA) - (6/2, 4/6, 11-9 -Rtd)
Women's single final:
Chia-Yi-Lu (Chaines Taipe) beat her team-mate Yi-Shan-Wu (Chaines
Taipe) - (6/2, 6/4)
Women's double
Chia-Yi-Lu and Yi-Shan-Wu (Chaines Taipe) beat Celia Cu Toit with
Rosalea Vander Meer (SA) -(6/1, 6/2)
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