Chathurya Nilaweera and Savini Jayasooriya took home 2019’s first Super ‘A’ Grade Under 18 crowns at the SSC Open Ranking Tennis Tournament.
Boys’ U18
Seeded third, Chathurya Nilaweera started his run at the title from the toughest half of a 32-member draw, which also saw the likes of top seeded Luca Knese. Nilaweera faced Praneel Jasinghe in the 2nd round, after receiving a Bye in the opening round.
Nilaweera made quick work of Jasinghe in straight sets, 6/2, 6/2, to advance to the quarterfinals where he played 8th seeded Thehan Wijemanne. Once again, Chathurya wasted no time in claiming the match 6/1, 6/2.
The semifinal against Knese was expected to be a tightly contested affair, however, Nilaweera dominated the game to take home yet another straight set victory. The top seed saw his exit in a 6/4, 6/1 defeat, sending Nilaweera straight into the final.
Read More : Sharmal thrashes Yasitha for SSC crown
Underdog Shevindra Perera started the tournament as the 6th seed coming in hot from the bottom half of the draw. With a walkover in the first round, he overcame a stellar three-setter against Kevin Assauw in the second round. Perera prevailed, 2/6, 6/1, 6/4.
His quarterfinal match against Anuth Wijesinghe turned to be another cracker of a game, particularly in the second set with Wijesinghe pushing it to a tie breaker. However, Shevindra eventually pulled through in straight sets, 6/3, 7/6(5).
Shevindra did well in the semifinal against Apna Perera to grab another straight set victory with the score line reading 6/3, 6/4. With this, Shevindra Perera filled in the 2nd spot in the big finale.
Photo Album : U18 Boys Final | SSC Tennis Tournament 2019
Chathurya Nilaweera was the more dominant force from the beginning, restricting his counterpart to just a game in the first. There was a decent fight back from Shevindra in the second set but he was no match for Nilaweera as he finished off the match 6/1, 6/3 to take home the SSC Open U18 Boys title for the year 2019.
Girls’ U18
2018 Junior National Champion, Savini Jayasuriya started this year as the top seed of the Girls U18 draw. With a Bye in the first round and a walkover from Tuvini De Alwis in the quarterfinals, Jayasuriya found herself in the semifinals of the draw rather rapidly.
Sethmi Sumanaweera was Jayasuriya’s next victim; Sumanaweera was coming off a fantastic win over Alana Seneviratne, who was seeded third in the tournament, in an exciting three-setter.
Read More : Rukshika clinches second women’s title at SSC
However, the top seed had different plans for Sumanaweera as she saw to the latter’s exit in the tournament in straight sets. Final scores read 6/4, 6/3, with Jayasuriya booking the first spot in the final.
Senuri Alexander had a tougher road to the final comparatively, meeting the second and fourth seeds in the first few rounds. Alexander did incredibly well to defeat Oneli Perera (2) in the first round 6/4, 7/6(4) and sister Tharani Alexander 6/1, 7/6 (5) in the first two rounds.
Read More : Rukshika clinches second women’s title at SSC
She also managed to down Ochinthya Fernando (4) in the semifinals in a nail biting finish, 7/6 (3), 7/5 to proceed through to face Jayasuriya in the final. However, Alexander didn’t get the fairytale ending she’d hoped for. Savini was quick to claim her first title of the year in a straight set 6/0, 6/2 win.
>>> Click here for more Tennis News <<<
