It was another special opportunity for Rob Shaw to compete and show his skillset on one of the greatest international stages in sport.
Canada’s top wheelchair tennis athlete made his second career appearance at the Paralympic Games, this time competing on the clay courts of Roland Garros.
It was a brisk start for the 34-year-old, who raced out of the gates with a decisive 6-2, 6-1 win over Brazil’s Ymanitu Silva to advance to the quarterfinals. Unfortunately his run in Paris was halted by young Dutchman Niels Vink, who simply overwhelmed the rest of the competition.
After defeating Shaw 6-0, 6-0, Vink would cruise through his semifinals and finals matches, losing just three games total. It was the second Paralympic gold medal of his career; Vink has also won five Grand Slam titles including back-to-back Wimbledon championships.
Despite his loss in the quarter-finals, Shaw has undoubtedly enjoyed a fantastic 2024. The Canadian has picked up two singles titles this season including a victory at the ITF Series 1 Swiss Open, the biggest of his career. He’s also notched five doubles titles, four of them with Australian partner Heath Davidson.
Americans shine at Birmingham Classic, Venos places runner up in doubles
Toronto was the host site of the Birmingham Wheelchair Tennis Classic, featuring three categories in both singles and doubles, with men’s and women’s competition and a Quad division.
British Columbia’s Thomas Venos, who sits a career high 52nd in the rankings, reached the quarter-finals of singles before falling to top seeded American Casey Ratzlaff.
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Ratzlaff would go on to defeat Connor Stroud in an all-American final to earn the title.
Venos fared even better in doubles – the 25-year-old advanced to the finals alongside Great Britain’s Andrew Penney. The pair would lose a tightly contested final to Ratzlaff and Stroud 6-1, 5-7, 10-3.
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In women’s singles, Frederique Berube Perron of Quebec defeated fellow Canuck Anne-Marie Dolinar in her first match before falling to the top seed and eventual champion Cornelia Ousthuizen of Great Britain.
The doubles featured a three team round robin, with Berube Perron placing second alongside Ruby Bishop of Great Britain, as the team notched one win and one loss.
With the wheelchair tennis classic in the rearview mirror, athletes still set their sites on a number of big events, including the 2024 Birmingham National Championships. Bedford, Nova Scotia will host the event from October 17th to 20th.