Cosmo Open Ranking Tennis Tournament was successfully concluded on the 24th of February 2013 at Dehiwala /Mt.Lavinia Cosmopolitan Sports Club
Since 1992 the “Cosmos Open Tennis Tournament” had been the considered as a core evaluator of Tennis ranks. As the first club to hold an open ranking tennis tournament outside of Sri Lankan Tennis Association,Cosmopolitan Sports Club owns the best tennis courts in Sri Lanka. All of these resources make the tournament a standard for competitive players to mark their performance.
As per the 2013 chapter of Tennis Open Ranks, outstanding skills were recorded by Nishangan Nadaraja, who went on to win the open single men’s championship, and Nethmi Waduge as the women’s single champion. As a junior and senior Davis Cup champion Nishangan clearly was outstanding among the participants. Nevertheless it was not an easy victory for Nishangan with Sanaka Athukorala at the other end. “The usual game plan was much pressurized by Sanaka. It was not a good start for me at the finals” accepts Nishangan while pointing that the first quarter was led by Sanaka for 5-3. But the pressure didn’t get to him; it merely fuled for a tremendous 7-5 and 6-2 in the latter halves securing the all Island Championship.
In addition whats most remarkable about the women’s single finals was that Nethmi Waduge who was the Under16 champion was taking on with much experienced Roshanka Fernando proving age is no barrier for accomplishments.
Moving on to the rest of the age categories what strikes the most is many of the outstation players were battling for their tennis shields. Ranging from Under14 girl’s single finalists who were from Ratanapura , there were many other enthusiastic participants from Bandarawela, Negombo and etc. Wording the thoughts of Christy Jayaweerasingham it is their aim to promote the sport all over the country and give students living in suburbs the opportunity to battle with professionals. He also requests the school sector to promote tennis since he strongly believes school age to be the most appropriate to step into tennis. Not forgetting this time the organizers have managed to work on two veteran events which are Over 40 doubles and over 50 doubles.
The Cosmopolitan Sport Club being a shelter to Sri John Kothalawala, N.M. Perera and many more legends in Ceylon history still passes on their legacy. The following is the list of finalists and the winners of 2013 Cosmo Open Ranking Tennis Tournament:
Girl’s U12 Finalists
Prabadi Perera(Champion)
Dileepa Daniel
Boy’s U12 Finalists
ThewanPerera
Chanith De Silva(Champion)
Girl’s U14 finalists
PiumiWickramasinghe
Umeshi Rajapaksha(Champion)
Boy’s U14 finalists
Nuwantha Dhisanayake
Jerique Rajapaksha(Champion)
Girl’s U16 finalist
Nethimi Waduge(Champion)
Tasha Fernando
Boy’s U16finalist
AmandhaGunawardana
JeriqueRajapaksha(Champion)
Girl’s U18 finalists
Hasindhi Lokuge(Champion)
Tasha Fernando
Boy’s U18 finalists
Yasitha De Silva (Champion)
DhanushkaAbeywikrama
All age men’s semifinalists
DhanushkaAbewardana
M.A. Shaakir
All age women’s Runners up: Roshenka Fernando
All age women’s Champion: Nethmi Waduge
All age men’s Runners up: SankaAthukorala
All age men’s Champion: NishanganNadaraja