Kunieda, Griffioen lift Sydney Super Series titles

Japan’s Shingo Kunieda won his 20th Super Series title, while the Netherlands’ Jiske Griffioen claimed her third in Sydney. 16 Jan 2013

World No. 2 Shingo Kunieda beat Maikel Scheffers 7-6 (2), 6-2 to win his 20th Super Series title of his career.

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By IPC

“The conditions were a little tough with the wind we had, but it gives me confidence going into the Australian Open Grand Slam next week.”

Japan’s Shingo Kunieda won the 20th Super Series title of his career on Tuesday (15 January) when he beat Dutch third-seeded Maikel Scheffers 7-6 (2), 6-2, in the men’s singles final at the Sydney International Open, part of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour.

World No. 2 Kunieda held off a strong challenge from Scheffers in the opening set but proved much stronger in the second set as he started his 2013 in style. The Japanese player is looking for a return to the world no. 1 ranking position which is currently held by Stephane Houdet of France, who was beaten in the Sydney semi-finals by Scheffers.

On the women’s side, world No. 4 Jiske Griffioen claimed the third Super Series title of her career on Monday (14 January), beating world No. 2 and top-seeded Aniek van Koot in the all-Dutch women’s singles final.

After Griffioen had beaten van Koot in their last singles match of 2012 to win her maiden NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters title in Belgium in November, the third-seeded hitter put up an even more dominant performance in the Sydney final to win 6-1, 6-0.

“I am very happy with my latest Super Series title,” Griffioen told the ITF. “The conditions were a little tough with the wind we had, but it gives me confidence going into the Australian Open Grand Slam next week.”

In the women’s doubles final in Sydney, reigning Doubles Masters champions Griffioen and van Koot dominated from the outset against Marjolein Buis of the Netherlands and Lucy Shuker of Great Britain, who were playing their first tournament together. Griffioen and van Koot, also the reigning Wimbledon champions, eased to a 6-1, 6-0 victory.

Houdet, meanwhile, ended his tournament on a winning note after partnering with Ronald Vink of the Netherlands to win the men’s doubles title in only their second tournament together.

After a semifinal loss in the men’s doubles at the 2007 US Open in New York, their only previous match as a partnership, top-seeded Houdet and Vink held on to beat second-seeded Michael Jeremiasz of France and Kunieda 6-4, 6-7(1), 6-3.