VANCOUVER, August 23, 2015
DudiSela has the opportunity to make history at the Odlum Brown VanOpen. The 30-year-old topped Yuki Bhambri 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday to advance to his fourth career singles final at the tournament, which is the most for any player since it started back in 2002. North Vancouver resident Rik de Voest also made four career final appearances at the Odlum Brown VanOpen, but they all came in doubles. To claim his three singles titles in Vancouver, Sela beat Australia’s Paul Baccanello in 2005, American Kevin Kim in 2008, and Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis in 2010.
A year after winning the men’s doubles crown at the Odlum Brown VanOpen, John-Patrick Smith of Australia gets his chance at singles glory against Sela. The 26-year-old beat Great Britain’s Daniel Evans 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 on Saturday to move into the men’s final. It’s the second time this year that Smith has advanced to a final on the ATP Challenger Tour, after winning in Drummondville, Quebec, in March.
Treat Huey has a chance to claim his third career doubles title at the Odlum Brown VanOpen on Sunday when he and Partner Frederik Nielsen face Yuki Bhambri of India and Michael Venus of New Zealand. The team of Nielsen – who won men’s doubles at Wimbledon in 2012 – and Huey advanced to the final after a 6-1, 7-5 victory on Saturday against Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania and Israel’s Dudi Sela.
Maria Sanchez of the United States is the first repeat champion at the Odlum Brown VanOpen in four years after she and partner Johanna Konta of Great Britain claimed the 2015 Women’s Doubles Championship with a 7-6(5), 6-4 victory over Romania’s Raluca Olaru and American Anna Tatishvili.
Women’s doubles finalists: Tatishvili, Olaru, Konta, Sanchez (from left to right)
Men’s Main Draw Singles Semifinals
- Dudi Sela, Israel, def. Yuki Bhambri, India, 6-2, 6-4,
- John-Patrick Smith, Australia, def. (Q) Daniel Evans, Great Britain, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Men’s Main Draw Doubles Semifinals
- Yuki Bhambri, India, and Michael Venus, New Zealand, def. Marius Copil, Romania, and Jurgen Melzer, Austria (4), walkover,
- Treat Huey, Philippines, and Frederik Nielsen, Denmark (3), def. Ricardas Berankis, Lithuania, and Dudi Sela, Israel, 6-1, 7-5.
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