LIMPOPO – South Africa’s top male wheelchair tennis player, Evans Maripa, produced a master-class performance upsetting the world number 11, Tom Egberink from The Netherlands, to reach the quarter-final round of the ABN AMRO World Wheelchair Tennis Tournament, part of the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour in Rotterdam, Netherlands last Wednesday evening. The world number 14 caused a huge upset by toppling the Dutchman with a stunning 6-1 0-6 6-1 thriller in a round of 16 clash. The win marks the first time Maripa beat Egberink in their six encounters.
Maripa next faces world number one, Stephane Houdet from France. The 26-year-old from Limpopo can find inspiration from his second meeting with the French star where he challenged Houdet but lost 1-6 5-7 in the Sardinia Open in 2014.
Maripa surged to a 4-1 lead and looked to be in complete control in the opening set as Egberink found it hard to keep up with Maripa’s dazzling pace and closed the set 6-1. The Dutchman managed to fight back in the second set when he produced a remarkable 6-0 to take it to a deciding set.
The South African star came back strong and started exuding his brilliance once more in the deciding set when he raced to a 3-0 lead. Egberink tried to reduce the gab taking the next point to 4-1 but Maripa proved to be too strong when he wrapped up the set with a thrilling 6-1 to book a place in the last eight.
“I am very happy to win my match today,” Maripa said following his match. “It was a challenging match and playing Tom Egberink is never easy but I am glad I pulled through.”
Maripa said he will go into the quarter-final match against Houdet with confidence and he will stick to his game plan, “Houdet is a very good player and a tricky customer to play against but following this match I will give it my best shot and stick to my game plan,” Maripa commented.
