BC Wheelchair Tennis Players Compete at the Inaugural Janco Steel Classic

Wheelchair Tennis players Barry Henderson, Kirsten Sharp and Thomas Venos are competing at the ITF Futures Janco Steel Classic, June 18-21 at the Grimsby Tennis Club in Grimsby, Ontario. 

The three athletes will be hoping to gain more momentum following last’s week’s Windsor Classic.

Men’s Singles

Thomas Venos (Anmore) entered the tournament as the fifth seed, earning him a first-round bye. In the second round, Venos powered past Mauricio Pomme (Brazil) in 3 sets, before bowing out to #1 seed and 56th-ranked Thomas Flax (AUT) in the quarterfinals 

Barry Henderson (Mission) took care of Gabriel Cyr (Alberta) in the first round before losing a tough three-set match to #2 seed Connor Stroud (USA) in the Round of 16. 


1st Round 
Barry Henderson Def. Gabriel Cyr 6-1, 6-0
Round of 16
Thomas Venos (5) Def. Mauricio Pomme (BRA) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
Connor Stroud (USA)(2) Def. Barry Henderson 4-6, 6-0, 6-1
Quarterfinals  
Thomas Flax AUT)(1) Def. Thomas Venos 6-4, 6-1

Women’s Singles

Kirsten Sharp (Vancouver) took a set off of Avery Downing (USA) in a quarterfinal loss.   

Quarterfinals
Avery Downing (USA) Def. Kirsten Sharp 6-1, 5-7, 6-0

Men’s Doubles

Thomas Venos and Doubles partner Jason Keatseangslip (USA) are the #2 seeded pair and haven’t dropped a game through the quarter and semifinals. 

Barry Henderson and Doubles partner Marko Golic (CAN) didn’t have as much luck, losing their first match to top-seeds  Connor Stroud and Chris Herman (USA)

Venos and Keatseangslip faced Francesc Tur (ESP) and Mauricio Pomme (BRA) in the final and put a valiant effort in a tough loss to the more experienced pair. 

Quarterfinals
Chris Herman & Connor Stroud (USA) (1) Def. Barry Henderson and Marko Golic 6-1 6-0
Thomas Venos (CAN) & Jason Keatseangslip (USA) (2) Def. Jean-Paul Melo (POR) & Jonathan Tremblay (CAN) 6-0 6-0
Semifinals
Thomas Venos (CAN) & Jason Keatseangslip (USA) (2) Def. Shawn Courchesne & Paul Novak (CAN) 6-0 6-0
FINALS 
Francesc Tur (ESP) & Mauricio Pomme (BRA) Def. Thomas Venos (CAN) & Jason Keatseanglisp (USA) 6-2, 6-0

Women’s Doubles 

Kirsten Sharp was a finalist alongside Doubles partner Joanna Nieh (USA) for the second straight tournament. After losing 6-0 6-0 in Windsor a week ago, Sharp and Nieh improved the second time around and managed to take 3 games off of top-seeded Americans Shelby Baron and Mackenzie Soldan who took the title 6-1, 6-2.

Semifinals
Kirsten Sharp (CAN) and Joanna Nieh (USA) Def. Gillian Cruz & Anne-Marie Dollnar (CAN) 6-1 6-1

*Full Draws are available HERE