16-year-old Chathurya in men’s singles semis

Tennis Nationals 2020

by Reemus Fernando

Sixteen-year-old Chathurya Nilaweera will meet second seed Yasitha de Silva in the bottom semi-final after the Stafford International player reached the semi-final stage of men’s singles for the first time at the 2020 National Tennis Championships at Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts on Tuesday.

Number one ranked Sharmal Dissanayake won his quarter-final match but will wait to know his semi-final opponent after the last quarter-final match was delayed due to inclement weather.

Dissanayake secured his semi-final spot with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Kavisha Ratnayaka. The number one ranked player will now meet the winner of the match between Sankha Atukorale and Savit Weerasinghe.

It was the first time that Nilaweera reached the semi-final stage after being eliminated as a fifteen year old in the third round of the last championships. He beat Vibuda Wijebandara to book his semi-final spot. Nilaweera who was the champion of the Under-16 age category at the last edition (2019) edged out Wijebandara 7-6, 7-6 in his match. He will now meet de Silva who beat Dilvan Herath (6-2, 6-1).

In men’s singles third round matches Savith Weerasinghe beat Ruwan Fernando 6-2, 6-0 and Athukorala beat Rukmal Cooray 6-3, 4-6, 10-4.

Women’s Singles quarter-finalists found

In the women’s singles third round matches Oneli Perera and Nishka Vivekanandan secured the two remaining quarter-final places as they beat Neyara Weerawansa and Alana Seneviratne respectively.

After conceding the first set 4-6, Perera came back strong in a three setter to oust Weerawansa 2-1 (4-6, 6-3, 10-5).

The contest between Vivekanandan and Seneviratne was also decided in a three set fight with the former scoring 6-4, 4-6, 10-7 to win.

Women’s Singles Quarter-final line up

Anika Seneviratne V Tuvini de Alwis

Savini Jayasuriya V Oneli Perera

Hasali Gajaba V Vonara de Alwis

Janali Manamperi V Nishka Vivekanandan