Jamie Burdekin recorded his first career victory over world No.1 David Wagner to reach the final of the quad singles at the British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships.
World No.5 Burdekin reached his second Super Series final with a 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 win over the American in a tough match on the indoor courts at Nottingham Tennis Centre.
Burdekin, who reached the French Open final earlier in the year, will now face world No.2 Noam Gershony after the Israeli defeated Brit Andy Lapthorne 6-3, 6-4 to book a place in his first British Open final.
“I am absolutely ecstatic over that win. I have never beaten Wagner before but I have been working so hard with my team and I knew that it was only a matter of time before I was in with a chance of winning,” said the 32-year-old, who won a bronze medal in the quad doubles at the Beijing Paralympic Games.
“Noam is a great player, he is very consistent and he has been playing really well, and I will have to be at the top of my game to have a chance against him tomorrow but I have had a huge boost today with this win.
“To beat the world No.1 at this stage in my preparations for the Paralympics is just fantastic.”
Burdekin and Lapthorne will team up in the quad doubles semi-finals tomorrow as they face Anders Hard of Sweden and Lucas Sithole from South Africa.
Meanwhile, Esther Vergeer booked her place in the women’s final as she got the better of Germany’s Sabine Ellerbrock 6-2, 6-1. The world No.1 will face Dutch compatriot Aniek van Koot after the world No.2 defeated Jiske Griffioen 6-2, 7-5.
There was doubles action on day four of the British Open but British pair Gordon Reid and Marc McCarroll lost out to Dutch second seeds Robin Ammerlaan and Ronald Vink 6-0, 6-2. Reid will be in action tomorrow in his men’s semi-final against third seed Vink.
This weekend there will be free tennis activity for all the family at Nottingham Tennis Centre with a barbeque on Sunday.