Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez claimed his third successive Parapan American Games men’s singles gold medal as the curtain came down on Lima 2019 at the end of August.

Colombia’s Angelica Bernal also won her first women’s singles gold medal at the regional Games. Meanwhile, Canada’s Rob Shaw upset the odds to win the first ever Parapan American Games quad singles gold medal.

As Argentina finished top of the wheelchair tennis medal table, Fernandez dropped just one game on his way to setting up his second all-Argentinian men’s singles final against Agustin Ledesma in three Parapan American Games.

Top seed and world No. 1 Fernandez went on to beat Ledesma 6-1 6-1, while Brazilian second seed Daniel Rodrigues claimed his second successive Parapan American Games singles bronze medal after defeating USA’s Casey Ratzlaff 6-2 6-3.   

“This result is huge for me. Every competition is a new and important experience. I am happy that I can pull it off each and every time and that I am able to put myself in this position,” said Fernandez, who now looks ahead to trying to complete the calendar year Grand Slam at the US Open.

Fernandez left Lima as a five-time Parapan American Games gold medallist after also partnering Ledesma to win the men’s doubles gold medal, the duo going one better than they did in Guadalajara, Mexico in 2011 after beating USA partnership Chris Herman and Ratzlaff 6-2 6-0. Fernandez teamed up with Ezequiel Casco to win men’s doubles gold in Toronto in 2015.

Bernal wins first women’s singles gold

Subject to meeting additional qualification eligibility criteria, Fernandez and Bernal’s victories in the men’s and women’s singles at the Parapan Am Games have earned them qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

World No. 12 Bernal made it two wins out of two matches against USA Dana Mathewson this season as she battled through to win her women’s singles semifinal against third seed Mathewson 7-6(5) 6-4.

In the bottom half of the draw fourth seed Macarena Cabrillana edged tough quarterfinal and semifinal matches, earning his career win over USA’s Emmy Kaiser in eight matches to claim their semifinal 6-2 3-6 6-3.

However, Chile’s No. 1 found the going tough in the final as Bernal swept to the gold medal 6-2 6-2.

“I was very focused and prepared well with my coaches. I really wanted to give my country a gold medal and happily achieved that,” said Bernal. “It is incredible to play with such a big crowd. To see that they value wheelchair tennis on the same level as tennis is rewarding. It is great to see that our effort and dedication is recognised.”

Mathewson, competing in her first Parapan American Games, took the bronze medal after beating her doubles partner Kaiser 6-3 7-5, thereby denying Kaiser what could have been a third successive Parapan Am Games women’s singles medal.

Mathewson and Kaiser paired up with great effect in the women’s doubles and lived up to their top seeding to defeat second seeds Bernal and Johana Martinez 6-3 7-5 in the gold medal match.

Argentina ended Lima 2019 with three wheelchair tennis medals, Nichole Dhers and Maria Florencia Moreno adding the bronze medal in the women’s doubles after a 6-0 7-5 victory over Brazil’s Rejane Candida and Meirycoll Duval.

Shaw upsets Wagner to win historic quad singles gold medal

Shaw earned Canada its first ever Parapan America Games wheelchair tennis gold medal after achieving a career best result over world No. 2 David Wagner in the quad singles final.

Both quad singles semifinals pitted Canada against USA as world No. 9 Shaw raced Bryan Barten 6-0 6-1 to book his place in the final for the loss of just three games.

Meanwhile, Wagner’s first tournament since Wimbledon saw the top seed defeat Mitch McIntyre 6-2 6-0, having fought back from a break down early in his quarterfinal against world No. 10 Ymanitu Silva.

The final saw Shaw start strongly and maintain his level to complete a 6-1 6-3 victory for his first career win over Wagner in eight matches.

“The mental part has always been my weakest one. But here (in Lima) it was my strongest for sure,” said Shaw, as he paid tribute to the team behind him. 

“Here, I managed to play really effective, simple and smart tennis. This is not just a medal that I won on my own. This gold medal represents a lot of sacrifice. Everyone… family, coaches, team-mates, work colleagues, my sports psychologist, has sacrificed something for me to be here. Whether it’s time or money, or other things in life."