The third and final international wheel chair Tennis tournament sanctioned by the ITF was played at the Negombo Tennis Club over the course of the weekend. The tournament came to a close on the 31st of March and it spelled the end to what had been an absolutely sensational series of wheel chair Tennis.
The experienced Korean Ha Gel Lee continued his fine form which he picked up at the SSC open as he went onto win the mens singles championship at the tournament held in Negombo. He defeated Upali Rajakaruna in his first round match with a score line of 7-6 6-3 and he went on to defeat Leon Els from South Africa in the semi finals in order to stage a final match up against the Sri Lankan number 1 Gamini Dissanayake. Dissanayake gained the better of Lee in the first tournament played at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association but the Korean proved to be far too superior on this occasion as he cruised to a straight set victory with a score line of 6-4 6-4.
It was third time lucky for the Sri Lankan duo of Upali Rajakaruna and Gamini Dissanayake as they were able to win the doubles event. The duo emerged as the runners up in both the Sri Lanka open as well as the SSC open however they were able to turn their luck around by staging a well earned victory against the Korean pairing of Ha Gel Lee and Sang Ho Oh with a score line that read 6-3 6-4 in order to win their maiden doubles title of the series.
Sarah Calati who dominated the womens singles events at the past two tournaments did not participate in the Negombo Tournament and this gave an ideal opportunity for Thandalwethu Hlatswayo from South Africa to dominate the competition. She did so with the greatest of ease as she beat the Sri Lankan Anoosha Amararunge 6-2 6-1 in the finals.
The Papare.com takes this opportunity to congratulate the players on their wonderful performances over the course of the three tournaments. We would also like to extend our warm wishes to the players for the upcoming tournaments of the wheel chair tennis season
