Fourth SSC Open Wheel Chair Tennis:

Three Sri Lankans enter singles semis

Anuradha ABEYSEKERA

Men's singles quarter-final results

Upali Rajakaruna beat K.M.S.P. Perera - 6/0, 6/1

D.S.R. Dharmasena beat Keegan Oh Chee (Aus) - 6/2, 6/4

Henry De Cure (Aus) beat N.R.L. Jayasundara - 6/0, 6/4

D.M. Gamini beat H.M.L.Senaratne - 6/4, 6/3

D.S.R. Dharmasena created a major upset beating third seeded Australia's Keegan Oh Chee 6/2, 6/4 in quarter-finals to book a main draw singles semi-final berth in the fourth SSC Open Wheel Chair Tennis Championship which commenced at the SSC clay courts yesterday.

The 2000 US-dollar prized money ITF Future Series tournament saw three Sri Lankans entering men's singles semis including top seed Upali Rajakaruna (Raja) and second seed D.M. Gamini. The only foreign semi finalist is fourth seeded Australian Henry De Cure.

Raja defeated K.M.S.P. Perera 6/0, 6/1 in the quarter-final match while Gamini booked a place in semis by beating H.M.L.Senaratne 6/4, 6/3 in quarters. Sri Lanka's number one Raja who is presently ranked as 69 in the world will meet Dharmasena in semis while local number two and World number 73 Gamini will battle against Henry De Cure in the other semi-final.

Altogether 16 players were listed in the main draw men's singles including 12 Sri Lankans, two Australians and two Indians and the tournament will have main draw and second draw events for players to participate and earn international ranking points in singles and doubles.

The tournament will continue till February 27 at the SSC tennis Courts.

Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC (DIMO) and Bank of Ceylon (BOC) sponsor the championship with 3G Sports providing official ball HEAD.