Shamal Dissanayake steals the limelight
The 101st Nationals, the Premier Tennis Championship in the country, concluded last week after 17-days of high octane tennis witnessed at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association ( SLTA ) courts,Green Path.
Shamal Dissanayake, took the limelight of the day, when he cruised past his rival contender Yasitha De Silva to snatch the final of the Men's Open Singles worked out last Sunday, on the final day of the
tournament. Dissanayake, the Davis Cup player and seeded one in the tournament, showed the difference in the final hurdle with power serving, forehand play and volleys to stun his opponent. Dissanayake finally came on top in the four setter by 6-2 4-6 6-2 6-3.
In the Women's Open Singles played last Saturday, the national player Thisuri Molligoda performed a class act to win the title. Molligoda, with her trump cards in her Armour , the quick forehand and backhand play rattled the game plan of Nethmi Waduge. Though Waduge seeded number one, could not withstand the pressure created by her rival who is seeded number two. Waduge desparately tried to overcome the onslaught of Molligoda but failed and finally succumbed. Molligoda after a tough battle won the two setter 7-5 7-6 (3).
In the Mixed Doubles Final, Thangarajah Dineshkanthan partnering with young Anika Seneviratne despite losing the first set 3-6, cruised through to win the balance two sets 7-5 10-8.
Amritha Muttiah partnering Medhira Samarasinghe, both seasoned national players went onto clinch the Womens Open Doubles Final by overcoming the threat posed by Kemalie Herath and Shenalie Weerasekara to win it 6-1 6-2.
The results of rest of the matches worked out on the final day.
Mens Over 35 Singles Final : Neshan Gunasekara received a walk over from Perumal Ganeshan
Mens Over 35 Doubles Final: Perumal Ganeshan/Chrishantha Perera bt. Arjun Fernando/Aasiri Iddamalgoda 6-3 6-3
Mens Over 45 Singles Final: Ganendran Subramaniam bt. Sirimal Kannangara 6-2 7-5
Mens Over 45 Doubles Final: Chammika De Silva/ Ganendran Subramaniam led the first set 1-0 over Suresh Subramaniam/K.A. Sudarshana before the latter retired.
Mens Over 55 Singles Final : Ravi Subramaniam bt. T.F.Hadji 6-1 6-0
Mens Over 55 Doubles Final: Ranjith Corea/Ravi Subramaniam bt. T.F.Hadji/R.Lal Chandra 6-3 6-1
Wheel Chair Singles Final : Gamini Dissanayake bt. D.S.R.Darmasena 6-2 6-1
Whell Chair Doubles Final : D.S.R. Darmasena/ R.A.L.S.Ranaweera bt. Gamini Dissayake/K.M.S.Perera 6-1 6-1