Wheelchair Tennis Tournaments Fill July

The month of July has seen several Wheelchair Tennis Tournaments around the world, and has given athletes a chance at refining their competition skills and proving the weight of their training on the court.

To start, the Belgian Open 2009 took place from 14-19 July on the clay surface of the Jambes Court. Athletes from the neighbouring Netherlands took many of the top positions. In the Men’s Singles, Maikel Scheffers lost his first set, but won the subsequent two against Martin Legner (AUT), while compatriot Rody De Bie took the Consolation Draw from Tony Le Pen (FRA) 6-1, 6-4. In the Men’s Doubles, Dutch duo Robin Ammerlaan and Maikal Scheffers defeated Tom Egberink (NED) and Stefan Olsson (SWE) after two sets 6-1, 6-3.

In the Women’s Singles, Daniela Di Toro from Australia defeated host country’s Annick Sevenans 6-0, 3-6, 6-4. The Women’s Doubles pitted two Dutch against each other, with Aniek Van Koot (NED) and Annick Sevenans (BEL) defeating Sharon Walraven (NED) and Daniela Di Toro (AUS) 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-4.

During the same time period, the Oualidia Open 2009 took place in Morocco. Athletes from the host country dominated all of the winning positions.

In the Men’s Singles, Zouhair El Hanine defeated compatriot Boukartassa El Haj 7-5, 6-0. In the Men’s Doubles, Moroccan pair El Hanine and El Haj defeated Fouad Boughnim (MAR) and Jean-Noel Joseph 6-1, 6-2. In the Women’s Singles, Malika Khelifi defeated Annabelle Ribeaud 7-6, 6-1. And in the Women’s Doubles Zahira Elhouari and Malika Khelifi defeated Fatiha Atertour (MAR) and Swiss’ Ribeaud.

Halfway around the world, the Pocomo Wheelchair Tennis Classic 2009 took place in Canada at Coquitlam. The intense athletic performance from participating athletes from the US and Canada was felt by all spectators.

In the Men’s Singles, Anthony E. Anderson (USA) defeated Corey Blatchford (CAN) 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. The Canadians however came back in the Men’s Doubles, where Blatchford together with compatriot Jerome Bouvier defeated USA’s Anderson and Patrick Jacobson 6-3, 6-2.