Yasitha, Luka, Chathurya, Thehan reach semis

Tennis National Championships 2021

Defending champion Yasitha de Silva, top seed Luka Knese and Colombo Championships finalists Chathurya Nilaweera and Thehan Wijemanne reached the men’s singles semi-finals of the Tennis National Championships 2021 at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts on Thursday.

De Silva advanced to the semis when third seed Vibuda Wijebandara retired after the second set which was tied 6-6. The defending champion won the first set 6-3. Now he is set to meet top seed Luka Knese in the semi-final. Knese overcame a first set defeat to beat Kiran Vairavanathan 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 in his quarter-final.

Wijemanne and Nilaweera who shared the champion and runner up titles in the open singles of the recently held Colombo Championships are set to meet in the other semi-final.

The Stafford International Schools player Nilaweera beat Ashen Silva 6-4, 6-0, while second seed Wijemanne edged out Zaidh Zihar 6-2, 6-4.

 Anjelika, Janali, Neyara, Hasali advance to semis

 In the women’s singles, 2019 champion Anjelika Kurera, second seed Janali Manamperi, Neyara Weerawansa and Hasali Gajaba reached the semi finals yesterday.

British School player Weerawansa beat Nesangi Hemakumara 6-2, 6-3 in her quarter-final and she will now meet favourite Kurera in the semi-final. Kurera, who won the open singles title at the Colombo Championships, overcame Savini Jayasuriya 6-4, 6-3 in her quarter-final match.

Manamperi, who beat Sajida Razick 6-2, 6-3 will encounter Hasali Gajaba in the other semi-final

Gajaba registered a convincing 6-0, 6-0 win in the quarter-final to secure the semi-final berth.