American quad doubles reclaim wheelchair tennis gold medal

Source: Xinhua | 09-14-2008 11:25

BEIJING, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Nick Taylor and David Wagner from the United States won the quad doubles title at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games wheelchair tennis event on Saturday.

The Americans, who also won the gold medal at Athens in 2004, beat unseeded Israeli pair Boas Kramer and Shraga Weinberg 6-0, 4-6, 6-2.

The Israelis saved three match points at 5-0 down in the third set and tried to mount a comeback, but failed in the end.

"A lot goes through you mind at that moment," Wagner said of the medal ceremony. "To see our flag raised in the middle as champions, as the best, to know that was being raised and the song was being played in our honour, it was highly emotional.

"It's hard not to have a few tears in your eyes, especially after a long couple weeks here away from home. It just gives you a little piece of home," he added.

In an earlier match lasting nearly three hours, British quad doubles pair Jamie Burdekin and Peter Norfolk won the bronze medal after defeating Dorrie Timmermans Van Hall and Boas Van Erp from the Netherlands 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-1.

The American pair Taylor and Wagner were pitted against each other earlier on Saturday in the quad singles bronze medal playoff, with Wagner winning out with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 victory.

"I think it helps and it hurts at the same time (being friends with Taylor). He knows where I'm going before I do and I know he's going before he does," said Wagner, the world number one quad singles player.

In the women's singles bronze medal match, fifth seed Florence Gravellier from France beat fourth seed Jiske Griffioen of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-4.

It's Gravellier's first Paralympic medal. She challenged for the bronze at Athens in 2004, but at that time lost to Australian Daniela Toro.

Editor:Xiong Qu