Highlights from the Tech Air Manitoba Open, held August 13-21 at Kildonan Tennis Club.
Nicholls Claims First MB Open Title!
Shane Nicholls beat Stephen Dubienski 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a three-hour men’s Open singles final. It was Nicholls’ third tournament title of 2016 after winning the WLTC Open in May and the Manitoba Clay Court Championships in June (he also reached the Deer Lodge Classic final, losing to Kevin Kylar). Nicholls played in the qualifying draw at this summer’s National Bank Challenger at Winnipeg Lawn Tennis Club, falling 6-4, 6-0 to Sebastien Boltz of France.
Lee Wins Triple Crown!
Samantha Lee caputred three titles at the Tech Air Manitoba Open, earning top honors in women’s Open singles, women’s Open doubles (with Hiroko Nameishi) and mixed Open doubles (with Chad Lacap). All three events were round-robin draws and Lee went undefeated in each with a 7-0 total record.
Lacaps Capture Doubles Titles!
The Lacap family had a big Sunday in doubles at Kildonan Tennis Club: in addition to Chad Lacap winning the mixed Open doubles with Samantha Lee, Sean and Cole Lacap were crowned men’s Open doubles champions. It was Sean Lacap’s sixth Manitoba Open men’s doubles title following his wins in 2004 with Julian Seelan, 2005 with Alex Gravina, 2006 with Doug Devriendt, 2013 with brother Chad and 2015 with brother Cole. In 2005, Sean Lacap partnered with Philip Anderson of Nova Scotia to capture the U16 Canadian doubles championship.
Last summer, Cole Lacap reached the men’s Open singles final at the Manitoba Open before losing to Stephen Dubienski and won an ITF U18 boys’ doubles title in St. Lucia with Californian Jack Pulliam.
Bernus Claims Wheelchair Championship!
James Bernus topped the five-player Prairies Cup wheelchair singles round-robin event at the Tech Air Manitoba Open. Bernus beat Sam Unrau 7-5, 7-6 in the final match to go undefeated at 4-0. Unrau placed second at 3-1. In the Canadian men’s wheelchair singles rankings, Bernus ranks No. 21 in the nation while Unrau is No. 23.
Shpunt Sports Impressive Record!
Elinor Shpunt won her third women’s 4.5 singles title of 2016 at the Tech Air Manitoba Open following victories at the WLTC Open and Tuxedo Open. She also won the women’s Open singles at the Deer Lodge Classic and Manitoba Clay Court Championships. In addition, Shpunt captured three mixed 4.5 doubles titles with Chris Shay.
Officials Win Doubles Title!
Ekaterina Zhupanova and Deborah Hoglund did double duty at Kildonan Tennis Club, working as tournament officials and teaming up to win prizes in two doubles events. The pair won the women’s 4.5 doubles and finished second in women’s Open doubles. In six total round-robin matches, Zhupanova/Hoglund went 5-1.
Chai Crowned 5.0 Champion!
Alex Chai won his first Tennis Manitoba 5.0 singles title following his loss to Shawn Sophasath in the Tuxedo Open final. Chai beat Ari Floom 6-3, 6-1 in the final. Floom also reached the men’s 4.5 singles final before falling in three sets to Ion Ursatanu. In addition to winning the 4.5 title, Ursatanu advanced to the semifinals in men’s 5.0 singles and qualified for the men’s Open singles main draw.
Double Victory For Kang!
Dong Won Kang won two doubles titles at the Tech Air Manitoba Open, partnering with Chris Shay and Lydia Gloria. Both victories came in final-set tiebreaks. Kang/Shay defeated Tom Brown/Dave Wilken 2-6, 6-4, 10-7 in the men’s 4.5 doubles final, while Kang/Gloria beat Hiroko Nameishi/Dave Wilken 6-2, 2-6, 10-5 in the mixed 4.5 doubles final.
Armenti Wins 3.5 Title!
Brendin Armenti has now won back-to-back men’s 3.5 singles titles on the Tennis Manitoba Tour. He followed up his victory at the Tuxedo Open by earning top honours in men’s 3.5 singles at the Tech Air Manitoba Open. Armenti beat Heath Vermette 6-1, 7-6 in the final.
Here are all the final results:
Men’s Open Singles final: Shane Nicholls def. Stephen Dubienski 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
Men’s Open Singles Consolation final: Chris Shay def. Rodney Bolianaz 6-4, 6-3
Women’s Open Singles round-robin: 1st Samantha Lee, 2nd Ileana Ursatanu
Prairies Cup Wheelchair Singles round-robin: 1st James Bernus, 2nd Sam Unrau
Men’s Open Doubles round-robin: 1st Cole Lacap/Sean Lacap, 2nd Connor Davies/Shane Nicholls
Women’s Open Doubles round-robin: 1st Samantha Lee/Hiroko Nameishi, 2nd Ekaterina Zhupanova/Deborah Hoglund
Mixed Open Doubles round-robin: 1st Samantha Lee/Chad Lacap, 2nd Monika Popovic/Zachary Baron
Men’s 5.0 Singles final: Alex Chai def. Ari Floom 6-3, 6-1
Men’s 5.0 Singles Consolation final: Michael Kandrack def. Murray Cobb 7-5, 7-6
Men’s 4.5 Singles final: Ion Ursatanu def. Ari Floom 3-6, 6-2, 7-5
Men’s 4.5 Singles Consolation final: Jeffrey Friesen def. Richard Wiebe 6-2, 2-6, 10-2
Women’s 4.5 Singles final: Elinor Shpunt def. Olena Vus 6-0, 6-0
Women’s 4.5 Singles Consolation final: Ileana Ursatanu def. Kirsten Bernas 6-1, 6-4
Men’s 4.5 Doubles final: Dong Won Kang/Chris Shay def. Tom Brown/Dave Wilken 2-6, 6-4, 10-7
Men’s 4.5 Doubles Consolation final: Braeden Debroni/Mack Ritcher def. Glen Dyck/Marvin Dyck 7-6, 6-2
Women’s 4.5 Doubles round-robin: 1st Ekaterina Zhupanova/Deborah Hoglund, 2nd Shirley Blanca/Lydia Gloria
Mixed 4.5 Doubles final: Lydia Gloria/Dong Won Kang def. Hiroko Nameishi/Dave Wilken 6-2, 2-6, 10-5
Mixed 4.5 Doubles Consolation final: Norah Vincent/Michael Gloer def. Brianna Lockhart/Ward Lockhart 6-1, 7-5
Men’s 3. 5 Singles final: Brendin Armenti def. Heath Vermette 6-1, 7-6
Men’s 3.5 Singles Consolation final: Sel Tse def. John Zinger 6-0, 7-6
Women’s 3.5 Singles round-robin: 1st Lorena Trann, 2nd Lillian Wong
Men’s 3.5 Doubles round-robin: 1st Glen Dyck/Marvin Dyck, 2nd David Scrapneck/Kevin Stroski
Mixed 3.5 Doubles round-robin: 1st Norah Vincent/Michael Gloer, 2nd Marilyn Redekop/Ted Redekop
Men’s 2.5 Singles round-robin: 1st Shane Mutz, 2nd John Ormiston
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