Shingo Kunieda triumphs in Daegu

Japanese seal fourth men’s title of 2019 15 Apr 2019
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Japanese wheelchair tennis player Shingo Kunieda

Japanese wheelchair tennis player Shingo Kunieda

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By ITF

World No. 1 and two-time men’s Paralympic gold medallist Shingo Kunieda completed the singles roll of honour at the Daegu Open in South Korea on Saturday.

The Japanese beat second seed and Rio 2016 doubles champion Nicolas Peifer 6-4, 6-1 to join Great Britain’s Jordanne Whiley and the Netherlands’ Sam Schroder in lifting the latest ITF 1 Series titles.

It was Kunieda’s fourth men’s singles crown of 2019 and 30th career win over Peifer in 32 matches.

However, the Frenchman finished the tournament with one title after partnering Japan’s Takashi Sanada to win the men’s doubles.

Whiley seals women’s events

The Brit left South Korea unbeaten in both singles and doubles with compatriot Lucy Shuker to follow up their Busan Open doubles victory.

The two-time Paralympic bronze medallists beat top seeds Marjolein Buis and Manami Tanaka 6-3, 3-6, 10-1 for the title.

Whiley also ensured her return to the singles world’s top 20 as she wrapped up her fourth singles title in five tournaments following a 6-2, 6-3 win over Japan’s Momoko Ohtani to continue her great comeback after childbirth.

Her only singles loss in 22 matches so far this season came against world No. 5 Giulia Capocci in February’s Bolton Indoor final.

Schroder wins quad singles

Three weeks on from losing in his first career match against world No. 5 Heath Davidson at the Cajun Classic, world No. 9 Schroder turned the tables in impressive fashion in Daegu as he recorded a 6-1, 6-4 victory in the final.

It was Schroder’s second singles title of the year, following his ITF 2 victory at the Bolton Indoor.

Davidson had a second chance to leave Daegu with a title when he partnered Mika Ishikawa in the doubles final. However, they had to settle for runners-up trophies as the Korean-Japanese partnership of Kyu-Seung Kim and Koji Sugeno took the title 6-3, 6-3.