Anika, Janali qualify for Women’s Open final

By M. Shamil Amit

Defending champion Anika Seneviratne and Janali Manamperi qualified for the Women’s Open final of the Clay court Tennis Nationals by winning their respective semi-final encounters played at the SLTA Courts in Green Path, Colombo today (29).

The two experienced players were stretched to the maximum with Anika overcoming Anjalika Kuruera 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 while Janali defeated Alana Seneviratne 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.

Meanwhile, in the Under-18 Boys’ singles semi-final, bottom seed Chathurya Nilaweera recorded a comfortable 6-4, 6-2 win against Apna Perera.

He will now meet the top seed Luca Knesse in the final encounter.

Both finals will be played tomorrow along with the Men’s Open doubles final between the pair of Sharmal Dissanayake/Rukmal Cooray and Sankha Athukorala/Yasitha de Silva.

Results:

• Boys’ Under-18 - Chathurya Nilaweera beat Apna Perera 6-4, 6-2.
• Women’s Open - Anika Seneviratne beat Anjalika Kuruera 3-6, 6-3, 7-6. Janali Manamperi beat Alana Seneviratne 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.