Houdet and Vergeer Win NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters

14 Nov 2011
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Stephane Houdet

Stephane Houdet. (FRA)

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By IPC

France’s Stephane Houdet and the Netherlands’ Esther Vergeer won the singles titles at the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters this past weekend in Mechelen, Belgium.

In the men’s final, Houdet defeated Dutchman Maikel Scheffers, 6-4, 7-6 (2), making for an emotional victory.

“It is a very special day for me, as I have Spanish friends in the crowd and one young lady who helped save my life after my (motorbike) accident,” Houdet said. “Also, friends from the French club I play for rang me yesterday and said they were coming to watch the final, so I am very happy I could win in front of all of them.”

The Netherlands’ Ronald Vink beat teammate Robin Ammerlaan in the third-place game, 6-3, 6-3.

World No. 1, the Netherlands’ Esther Vergeer, dominated in the early exchanges against teammate Aniek van Koot in the women’s final and cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 victory to win her 14th event title and her 434th consecutive match.

“After winning fourteen NEC Masters titles I really feel like this is my tournament as I’ve won it so many times in the Netherlands, so (I’m) very happy to win the first one here in Belgium,” Vergeer said.

The Netherlands’ Jiske Griffioen defeated teammate Marjolein Buis, 6-2, 6-4, for third place.

Israel’s Noam Gershony beat Great Britain’s Andrew Lapthorne in three sets for the quads title, 0-6, 6-3, 7-5.

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