Gershony double-bagels Weinberg to reach final
09/07/2012 03:45
Israel is guaranteed at least two tennis medal from the Paralympic Quad wheelchair competitions.
ISRAEL’S NOAM GERSHONY Photo: Razi Livnat
Noam Gershony guaranteed himself his second medal of the Paralympics on Thursday, thrashing countryman Shraga Weinberg 6-0, 6-0 to advance to the finals of the Quad wheelchair tennis tournament in London.
The Israelis joined forces to win the bronze medal in the doubles tournament on Wednesday, but the 29-year-old Gershony showed Weinberg (46) no sympathy a day later, wrapping up the win in just 47 minutes.
Gershony, who only took up tennis after he suffered serious injuries when his helicopter crashed during the 2006 Lebanon War, won the French Open at Roland Garros earlier this year and has quickly risen to become the world's No. 2 ranked player.
He will face world No. 1 David Wagner in Saturday's final at Eton Manor after the American needed just 44 minutes to beat countryman Nicholas Taylor 6-2, 6-1 in the semis.
Gershony has a 5-4 career record against the 38-year-old Wagner, winning their last three meetings.
Regardless of the result in the final, Israel is already guaranteed to better its medal tally of six from the Beijing Games four years ago.
The Israeli delegation has picked up seven medals so far, with shooter Doron Shaziri and handcyclist Koby Lion both winning silver, swimmer Inbal Pezaro taking two bronzes and swimmer Itzhak Mamistvalov claiming one bronze.
Weinberg could also still give Israel its third medal from the tennis events when he faces Taylor for the bronze following their defeats in the semis.