Gerard, Ellerbrock, Hunter claim titles at Sardinia Open

Written by: Staff on 1st October 2012

Gerard, Ellerbrock, Hunter claim titles at Sardinia Open

epa03384833 Netherland's Ronald Vink returns on his way to victory over Belgium's Joachim Gerard in the Wheelchair Tennis Mens singles quarter final at Eton Manor in the Olympic Park during the London 2012 Paralympic Games, London, Britain, 05 September 2012. EPA/GERRY PENNY |

(Courtesy of the ITF: http://www.itftennis.com/wheelchair/news/articles/gerard,-ellerbrock,-hunter-claim-titles-at-sardinia-open.aspx)

Belgium’s Joachim Gerard, Germany’s Sabine Ellerbrock and Canada’s Sarah Hunter won Saturday’s men’s, women’s and quad singles finals at the 13th Sardinia Open which was held at the Alghero Tennis Centre. The tournament is part of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour and was the last ITF 1 Series tournament of 2012.

This was Gerard’s second ITF 1 Series title, having won his maiden ITF1 Series title at the Salzburg Open in August and his second title in as many weeks after winning the singles title at the ITF Series 2 event at the Open de L’Ile de Re last weekend. The top seed and world No. 10 recorded a 63 57 60 victory over French second seed Frederic Cattaneo in Saturday’s Final for his sixth NEC Tour title of the season.

Ellerbrock took her tally of NEC Tour titles in 2012 to seven after she successfully retained her Sardinia Open women’s singles crown. The top seed and world No. 3 secured a 61 62 victory over Dutch second seed Sharon Walraven a day after the two players had paired up to win the women’s doubles title.

Hunter arrived in Sardinia unseeded for the quad singles but the former world No. 2 won her second title of the year after ending Italy’s hopes of a home winner in Sardinia when she beat top seed Antonio Raffaele 63 61.

However, Raffaele will leave Alghero with one title to his name after partnering Sweden’s Christer Jansson to win the quad doubles earlier in the week.

Topics: Canadian tennis news, Christer Jansson, Germany tennis news, Joachim Gerard, Sabine Ellerbrock, Sarah Hunter, Sardinia Open 2012