Japanese players on course for sweep of US Open singles titles

Japanese wheelchair tennis players are on course to win the men’s and women’s US Open Grand Slam titles after world No.1’s Shingo Kunieda and Yui Kamiji both made it through to Sunday’s (7 September) finals.

Kunieda ran out a 7-5, 7-6 winner is his semi-final against France’s Nicolas Peifer and will now face Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez to be in with a chance of winning the title he last won in 2011.

Fernandez caused an upset in his semi-final by defeating France's defending champion and No.2 seed Stephane Houdet 7-6, 6-1.

In the women’s draw, Kamiji had to battle hard to overcome the Netherlands’ Jiske Griffioen and put herself in contention to win her first US Open title.

The 20-year-old, who is the youngest No.1 seed in Open history, was outclassed early on in the contest and soon found herself a set behind. The tournament favourite rallied however, and went on to take the match 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

She will now play another Dutch player, defending champion Aniek Van Koot, in the final after she beat her compatriot Marjolein Buis 6-1,6-3.

In round-robin quad play, American David Wagner got back to winning ways with a 6-0, 6-0 win over teammate Nick Taylor.

South Africa’s Lucas Sithole, who had beaten Wagner a day earlier, lost to Great Britain’s Andy Lapthorne 6-2, 6-3 who now leads the standing with two victories.

For all the latest results from the US Open, please click here.