Home favourite Jordanne Whiley secured the biggest upset on a thrilling first day of action at the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters when the 2013 semi-finalist beat world No. 1 and defending champion Yui Kamiji of Japan in their opening women’s singles Pool A round-robin match.
World No. 6 Whiley, who partnered Kamiji to complete a calendar year Grand Slam of doubles titles earlier this season, beat her close friend for the first time since June 2014, her 6-2, 6-3 victory giving the Brit her first career win over a world No. 1 ranked player
“Today I was really focused and that was definitely the best singles match of my career so it was a good start to the tournament. My serve was atrocious today but I was quite lucky that Yui’s serve wasn’t on it as well but I need to work on that for tomorrow,” said Whiley.
“I like playing people that I like, because I respect them so if they make a winner past me I don’t feel angry inside, I just say ok, next one. Me and Yui are best friends so people might think it’s quite difficult but business is business and she knows that and I know that. I still haven’t made the semis yet so I’ll be coming out tomorrow fighting, I still need another win at least so that’s my challenge now,” added the British No. 1, who became the first Brit to reach the last four of the women’s singles in the history of the NEC Masters in 2013.
Elsewhere in Pool A former world No. 1 Sabine Ellerbrock recovered from 4-2 down in the first set of her first of three round-robin matches to defeat previous NEC Masters finalist Sharon Walraven 7-5, 6-1. Whiley will play Ellerbrock in her second match, with Kamiji facing what will now be a vital match against Walraven.
There was the suggestion of another upset in women’s singles Pool B as Kgothatso Montjane claimed the first set of her contest Aniek van Koot. However, the world No. 3 ranked Dutchwoman fought back strongly to seal a 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory ahead of playing her compatriot and world No. 2 Jiske Griffioen on Thursday in a rematch of their 2012 NEC Masters final, with Griffioen having already beaten Marjolein Buis 6-3, 6-1 in another all-Dutch clash.
Just one of the first four men’s singles round-robin matches went to form, with Japan’s Takashi Sanada among the day’s surprise victors as he reversed the result of his London 2012 meeting with Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez.
As the sport made its return to the venue that was known as Eton Manor during the London 2012 Paralympic Tennis Event, world No. 8 Sanada edged world No. 4 Fernandez 7-5, 7-5 as the two players met for the first time since the London Games
“I’m very happy be here and this was a surprise to me because I am lower ranked than the rest of the players. I just want to be able to challenge this week,” said Sanada, who received a late call-up for his NEC Masters debut after the withdrawal of his compatriot Takuya Miki.
It was a good day for both Japanese players in men’s Pool A, with two-time Paralympic gold medallist and two-time defending NEC Masters champion Shingo Kunieda beating 2009 champion Maikel Scheffers 6-1, 6-3 after winning six games in a row in the second set.
“The first set was almost perfect for me, but the second set, the first three games were a little bit tough, I made many mistakes and also he played well. But I came back from 0-3 down, so I’m quite satisfied today,” said Kunieda.
“I have many good memories of this venue from 2012, so I’m very happy to play here again. It was great to have so many Japanese fans here supporting me today too.”
There was an upset in Pool B as world No. 7 Nicolas Peifer defeated fellow Frenchman and 2011 NEC Masters champion Stephane Houdet 6-4, 6-3.
“I didn’t make too many mistakes and played pretty well so I’m happy with the way I managed the match,” said Peifer, a men’s doubles silver medallist at the Paralympics two years ago, when Houdet claimed the men’s singles silver medal behind Kunieda. ”I’m so happy to see how the venue has been developed since 2012.”
Peifer now faces 2013 runner-up Joachim Gerard after the Belgian began his quest to reach a second successive NEC Masters final with a 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 victory over Britain’s world No. 3 Gordon Reid.
World No. 4 Dylan Alcott, a member of Australia’s silver medal-winning men’s wheelchair basketball team at London 2012, marked his return to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and his NEC Masters debut with a hard fought 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over Britain’s world No. 2 Andy Lapthorne in the first set of round-robin matches in the quad singles.
“I’m stuffed, that was probably one of the best matches I’ve ever played and Andy played unbelievable, so it was really, really tough," said Alcott. "I played him last week (in the Nottingham Indoor final) and it was a lot easier than that, so when he came out so strong I was a bit on the back foot straight away. It’s good to come out with the win, I was struggling at the end, and cramping a bit. It’s surprisingly hot and there was a lot of tension, but I’m pretty stoked to come through with the goods.”
Alcott meets defending champion David Wagner in his second match, with the American world No.1 having a comfortable start to his title defence beating South Africa’s Lucas Sithole 6-1, 6-1 in a rematch of the 2013 final.
“You just try to get that first one under your belt as soon as you can. It’s never easy, this is the Masters and the best in the world are here. You just have to show up and be ready and play your best because every match counts,” said Wagner.
“This is a cool place for me, it’s got a lot of memories. It’s my first time to come back to a Paralympic venue ever, I played in Athens, played in Beijing, but I’ve never been back to those venues, so this is really cool to be back and get a glimpse and what happens after the Paralympics.”