18-year-old Nethmi Waduge went on to retain her Colombo Championships Open Women’s title while Pakistan national Heera Ashiq ousted Sri Lanka Davis Cup player Nishangan Nadaraja in the finals to win the Men’s open at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association playing courts yesterday (25th).

The 101st Colombo Championships that started during the first week of July saw the top players in the Lankan tennis arena battling it out in the open championship race. It was an interesting tussle in the Women’s open and the title fight came down to Anika Seneviratne and Nethmi Waduge.

Runner-up Women's Anika Seneviratne
Runner-up Women’s Anika Seneviratne

Sixteen-year-old Anika Senenviratne defeated Rukshana Abdeen, Shenalie Weerasekara and finally Prabudhi Perera to make her way to the finals but could not overhaul Waduge. The defending champion, Nethmi Waduge overcame the 16-year-old Anika Seneviratne winning the final 7-5, 6-3.

Meanwhile, Peterite Nishangan Nadaraja made his way to the 101st Colombo Championship Men’s Open final alongside Pakistani national Heera Ashiq. Nishangan had to fight hard for his final spot defeating the top seed Yasitha De Silva in the semi-finals. Losing the first set 3-6 in the semis to Yasitha, Nadaraja fought back in the next three sets to win them 6-2, 6-4 & 6-1 earning his ticket to the finals.

Nishangan Nadaraja
Runner up ​(left) Nishangan Nadaraja and winner (right) Heera Ashiq

The ex-national champion, Heera Ashiq faced Anish Weerasinghe in the semi-finals and Heera came out on top winning the match 6-2, 7-6(5) & 6-2. The final was an easy tussle for the experienced Pakistani who won the game 6-3, 6-3 & 6-2.

Coming in third in the Men’s open was Yasitha De Silva and Prabudhi Perera took the third place honours in the Women’s. With the finals of the Open titles concluding, the Mens’ and Women’s doubles will progress on to its final games and is set to be concluded by the end of the week.

Photo Album – Colombo Tennis Championship 2016 – Day 3