Is there a better way to end your career than as a champion? How about breaking a national record.
Canada’s top wheelchair tennis player, Rob Shaw, will be walking away from international play on the ITF wheelchair tennis circuit not just a winner after claiming the title on home soil at the Birmingham Classic last week in Toronto, but as the nation’s most decorated wheelchair tennis player of all-time.
Here is the monthly wheelchair tennis update.
Shaw defeated Brazil’s Ymanitu Silva in three sets on Saturday to win the quad singles title at Canada’s highest-tier ITF wheelchair event, the 25th ITF singles title of his career, the most by any Canadian. It was his third victory at the Birmingham Classic.
The North Bay-ON native ends his international career with a total of 54 ITF titles, singles and doubles (29) combined. Shaw will retire as Canada’s all-time combined title leader on the ITF wheelchair tour. His victory in Toronto broke a tie with Yuka Chokyu for the most total titles by a Canadian.
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Shaw was the top seed in Toronto and had a bye to the semifinals, where he defeated countryman Shawn Courchesne 6-0, 6-1. In the final against Silva, the Canadian rallied from a set down to ultimately claim the title with a 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory.
“Most athletes don’t get a fairytale ending to their careers but I felt like I got mine today. It was incredible to win my last ever match in front of the people that have been there throughout my entire career, and to do it at the tournament that means the most to me was the cherry on top,” said Shaw during his post-match speech. “My opponent did not make it easy on me but I found a way to grind out a win one last time. I’m sure the next few days and weeks will be emotional as I reflect back on my career, but I couldn’t be prouder of what I’ve been able to accomplish.”
There may still be one last hurrah for Shaw, who has left the door open to playing the Birmingham Nationals, Canada’s national championships for wheelchair tennis, in Vancouver in November.
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Outside of the quads, Canada had three other semifinalists. Vicky Morton reached the semifinals of the women’s singles, losing to eventual champion Lucy Shuker. There were two Canadian semifinalists, Thomas Venos (with American Charlie Cooper) and Billy Bridges (with Frenchman Jessy-Carl Dongal) in the men’s doubles, but each lost to one of the top two seeds.
Here are the results from the Birmingham Classic:
- Men’s Singles: Conner Stroud (USA) d. Daisuke Arai (JPN)
- Women’s Singles: Lucy Shuker (GBR) d. Cornelia Oosthuizen (GBR)
- Men’s Doubles: Andrew Penney (GBR)/Conner Stroud (USA) d. Daisuke Arai (JPN)/Kouhei Suzuki (JPN)
- Quad Singles: Rob Shaw (CAN) d. Ymanitu Silva (BRA)
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