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Kunieda, Kamiji win consecutive Japan Open titles
Japan’s very own claim men, women’s singles titles, while Alcott beats Wagner for quad crown 18 May 2015
Japan's Yui Kamiji returns a shot during her women's wheelchair singles final match against Aniek Vanuatu Koot of Netherlands at Roland Garros in Paris, France
"I am happy with the results, as I want to keep playing my best game in order to prepare best for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.”
For the second year in a row, world No. 1 players Shingo Kunieda and Yui Kamiji secured a Japanese double in the men and women’s singles, respectively, at the Japan Open on 17 May in Iizuka, Japan.
Kunieda earned his eighth title at the event, which was part of the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour, while Kamiji won the women’s title for the third successive year.
Both finals pitched the world’s top-ranked players against the world No. 3 ranked players. Kunieda registered his 13th win over Britain’s Gordon Reid in their 16 career matches, winning his second Super Series singles title of the season 6-2, 6-3.
"I was very delighted to see so many people came to watch the match,” Kunieda said. “Gordon played a very good match, which made it more difficult for me to win.
“I am happy with the results, as I want to keep playing my best game in order to prepare best for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.”
Kamiji had a slow start to the women’s singles final, as reigning Nippon Electric Company (NEC) Wheelchair Tennis Masters champion Aniek van Koot raced to the early lead in the opening set. It seemed as if the Dutch athlete, who was recovering from a shoulder injury, was on her way to victory in her first tournament since the Australian Open in early February.
However, Kamiji found her range in the second set and took the momentum into the third to complete a 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory and repeat her win over van Koot in the semifinals last year in Iizuka.
On the quad singles side, No. 2 ranked Dylan Alcott won his first Japan Open quad singles title after a 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 victory over world No. 1 and the USA’s seven-time Japan Open champion David Wagner. Alcott also won the quad doubles, partnering South Africa’s Lucas Sithole.
Kamiji joined forces with her British Grand Slam-winning partner Jordanne Whiley to win the women’s doubles, edging the tandem of Germany’s Sabine Ellerbrock and Britain’s Lucy Shuker, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Kunieda and Reid teamed up and cruised to win the men’s doubles with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Frances Michael Jeremiasz and the Netherlands’ Maikel Scheffers.
Find full results of the Japan Open at the International Tennis Federation's (ITF) website.
