The two top male and female seeds of the Australian Open 2010 wheelchair singles tournament all advanced to the finals on the second day of competition on Thursday.
Three-time men’s champion and top seed, Shingo Kunieda of Japan, advanced in straight sets over Robin Ammerlaan of the Netherlands 6-4 6-3.
Dutchman Ammerlaan had his chances in the first set but was unable to capitalise on his nine break-point opportunities, breaking Kunieda only three times.
Kunieda, on the other hand, grabbed his chances with a perfect break-point conversion rate to win the first set.
Kunieda, who won the Australian Open 2009 wheelchair doubles title with Ammerlaan, was not about to let his doubles partner into the match, and improved his service game in the second set, landing 70 per cent of his first serves.
The two players traded service breaks in the second, but it was the Japanese player who was able to hold his serve and secure a double break. Kunieda closed out the second set 6-2 and advance to his fourth consecutive Australian Open final.
Second seed Stephane Houdet of France set up a clash between the top two players of the tournament when he defeated Martin Legner of Austria 6-2 6-0.
The 39-year-old Houdet is 13 years older than Kunieda, and his semi-final win sets up a rematch of the 2009 final, in which Kunieda triumphed.
In the women’s wheelchair event, top seed Korie Homan of the Netherlands survived an injury scare against compatriot Aniek Van Koot to scrape through in three sets, 6-1 6-7(4) 6-2.
Homan was a set up and leading 3-1 in the second when she called an injury time-out, which saw her wrist strapped heavily by a trainer.
Van Koot then pushed the second set to a tie-break which she won 7-4 and claiming the set, which took a marathon 75 minutes.
Homan was dominant in the decider, breaking Van Koot three times in as many attempts and closing out the set 6-2 to advance to her third final at the Australian Open.
Homan will meet second seed Florence Gravellier in the final after the Frenchwoman comfortably defeated Jiske Griffioen of the Netherlands 6-2 6-4
The Dutchwoman has never won a singles Grand Slam, losing last year’s Australian Open final to her regular doubles partner and world No. 1 Esther Vergeer.
Vergeer has dominated women’s singles wheelchair tennis for the past decade and has won the last three Australian Open titles, but withdrew from the 2010 tournament, presenting a golden opportunity for Homan to claim her first Grand Slam title.
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