Photo: Canada's Natalia Lanucha in action
SANTIAGO – Mitch McIntyre of Vancouver, B.C. advanced to the quarterfinals in wheelchair tennis quad singles Monday at the 2023 Parapan American Games.
Also moving into the final eight were Thomas Venos of Anmore, B.C. and Barry Henderson of Mission, B.C. in men’s doubles.
McIntyre, ranked 24th in the world, defeated Edison Molina of Ecuador 6-2, 6-3 in 68 minutes under a hot blazing sun on the clay court at the Tennis Centre located at the Games main hub around National Stadium.
‘’I’m getting more and more comfortable with the clay,’’ said McIntyre, fourth in the event at the 2019 Games in Lima. ‘’I thought I played a pretty smooth first set, got away from the game plan a little bit in the second but I was able to adjust and do what I had to do to win.’’
Canada’s other entry in quad singles is defending champion and co-flag bearer in the Opening Ceremony, Rob Shaw of North Bay, Ont. Shaw had a bye to the quarters and opens Tuesday against Diego Perez of Chile. McIntyre faces another Chilean Francico Cayulef.
Shaw and McIntyre also play together in quad doubles, and begin their campaign Tuesday as well.
In men’s double, Venos and Henderson opened their tournament with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Francisco Beltran and Eduardo Lopez of Ecuador.
Earlier Monday, Venos lost in the men’s singles quarterfinals to Connor Stroud of the U.S. 6-3, 6-1.
‘’Our matches in the past year have been really close,’’ said Venos, 24, at his second Parapan Ams. ‘’If a few points could have gone my way, the result may have been different.’’
In women’s doubles, Anne Marie Dolinar of Deep River, Ont. and Natalia Lanucha of Pincourt, Que. were beaten by Americans Dana Mathewson and Maylee Phelps 6-0, 6-2 in their opening match.
