Final week, 23-year-old Thomas Venos defeated American Jason Keatseangsilp 6-4, 7-6(7) within the Alabama Open last to clinch his first ITF event crown of the season. Venos, the present world No. 59 in wheelchair tennis, is on a outstanding streak, profitable six of his final seven matches on the professional circuit. With the win in Alabama, Venos now has three ITF titles to his identify.
Regardless of incomes a first-round bye because the event’s No. 3 seed, Venos’s week was removed from straightforward as he confronted the highest two seeds – People Conner Stroud (No. 1) and Keatseangsilp (No. 2) – en path to capturing the Alabama Open title. First up was Stroud within the semi-finals, the place Venos claimed his first victory over the American in three hard-fought units 6-3, 0-6, 6-2. Then within the championship match, Venos rode the wave of momentum he received from his gutsy win over Stroud and took down Keatseangsilp in straight units. He’s now gained 4 consecutive matches in opposition to Keatseangsilp – the present world No. 42.
“One other robust match immediately, it wasn’t fairly at instances,” Venos mentioned after the win. “I had some points with my timing, however I used to be in a position to overcome that and when it mattered most, I trusted my photographs and it got here via. Good week throughout with two massive wins back-to-back with one being over somebody I haven’t crushed in my seven years of taking part in. I’m very pleased with the end result and I sit up for my subsequent event.”
Venos (Anmore, British Columbia) might be competing on the Birmingham Nationals subsequent month, the place he’ll attempt to win his third consecutive title on the occasion.
Rob Shaw reaches finals on the Sardinia Open
Venos isn’t the one Canadian wheelchair tennis participant leaving his mark on the worldwide scene, as North Bay’s Rob Shaw continues to solidify himself as one of many prime quad gamers on this planet. Shaw, who at present holds the No. 7 spot within the quad singles rankings, had a runner-up end final week on the Sardinia Open in Italy – an ITF 1 Collection event. He dropped his last match to world No. 1 Niels Vink 6-1, 6-1.
“Clearly, that’s not the best way I hoped my event would finish, however the actuality is that my opponent is only a much better tennis participant than I’m at present,” mentioned Shaw. “I definitely didn’t play my greatest, however a big a part of that was due to the standard of ball my opponent was hitting. Time to return residence and get in a strong coaching block earlier than my final event of the 12 months.”
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