5-time Sri Lanka National champion and former Davis Cup player, Dineshkanthan Thangarajah made his way back to victory, winning the 2018 Men’s Open title at the SSC Open Ranking Tennis Tournament 2018 while his student in the National Junior Fed Cup team, 14-year-old Anjalika Kurera secured the Women’s Open Singles title.
Click here for Photos: SSC Open Ranking Tennis Tournament 2018 | Women’s Finals
Making his comeback in one of the top events in Sri Lanka Tennis, the SSC Open category 1, Thangarajah played poker with his fitness levels. The champ couldn’t be put down as he stunned the juniors at their peak to take home one more National level title.
“Winning tastes sweeter when it’s a comeback” – Dineshkanthan Thangarajah
With the unpredictable weather conditions in Colombo, the clay court at SSC wasn’t its usual surface. But with years of experience and maturity under his belt, Thangarajah made it through to the final with comfortable wins. Between him and his championship, stood Yasitha De Silva, fellow Davis Cup teammate.
Youngsters take the reins for Sri Lanka
The Sri Lanka F1 Men’s Futures Tennis Tournament will square…
Thangarajah was on top of his game from the get-go but 21-year old De Silva didn’t let him have it without a fight. After conceding the first set to Thangarajah in a tie breaker 7/6 (5), De Silva came back from 5-3 down in the second set to push it to another tie breaker. Thangarajah, playing completely on experience, calmly held off young De Silva with 7/2 in the tie break.
Following her mentor’s footsteps, 14-year-old Anjalika Kurera secured the Women’s Open Singles title. Hailing from Ave Maria Convent, Kurera has been a big achiever ever since she started the sport. She has represented Sri Lanka in many ITF u-14 and 16 competitions and is a top 2 player in the Sri Lanka National Junior Fed Cup team.
Visakha Vidyalaya crowned junior champions
Visakha Vidyalaya has bagged both championship titles..
Starting as the 3rd seed in the Women’s Open main draw, Kurera crushed her opponents with impressive scores on her way to the final. She beat bottom seed and Senior Fed Cup representative Savini Jayasuriya in the semifinal with ease, 6/2, 6/1.
Top seed Familian Janali Manamperi stood no chance against Kurera, as she took home the women’s final 6/1, 6/1. Anjalika’s journey in the Girls U14 and 16 singles as she faces the quarterfinal and round 2 in the slow going junior events.
Stay logged to ThePapare.com for more photos and news on the ongoing SSC Open Ranking Tennis Tournament 2018
>>Click here for things Tennis<<
