U.S. OPEN WHEELCHAIR TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS : Van den Bosch Rallies for Second Title

George DeCoster gave Holland’s Monique van den Bosch a new outlook on life when he introduced her to wheelchair tennis seven years ago. This year, van den Bosch gave DeCoster a U.S. Open championship.

Van den Bosch defeated Chantal Vandierendonck of Holland, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5, to win the women’s open division at the U.S. Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships Saturday at the Irvine Racquet Club.

Van den Bosch also won the U.S. Open, considered the most prestigious tournament on the tour, in 1987. Her victory Saturday ended Vandierendonck’s string of three U.S. Open titles.

But the victory was tinged with sadness because DeCoster did not live to see this championship.

DeCoster, the founder of Amigo, a company that makes lightweight sports wheelchairs and other athletic equipment, died in August.

“He was like a second father to me,” van den Bosch said. “He was the one who put me in the sport and allowed me to play semi-professionally, so I dedicated (this U.S. Open championship) to him.”

Amigo is van den Bosch’s primary sponsor, and also employs her as a tennis expert.

Van den Bosch explained that although DeCoster was disabled and unable to play tennis, he had a love for athletics. Mark Kalkman, van den Bosch’s fiance and coach, called DeCoster “a real fighter.”

Van den Bosch rallied from a 5-1 deficit in the first set, but lost, 6-4. But by winning 13 of 15 games, she won the second set and took a 3-0 lead in the third.

But Vandierendonck answered van den Bosch’s charge by winning five of the next six games to take a 5-4 lead.

Vandierendonck, serving for the match, had three match points, but van den Bosch hit clean winners to save all three.

“I got a little tentative with those points,” Vandierendonck said. “But Monique played them well by taking the initiative.”

“If I make a mistake on those match points, it’s over, simple as that,” van den Bosch said. “So I kept calm because there was nothing to lose.”

Mick Connell of Australia upset No. 1-seeded Laurent Giammartini of France, 7-5, 6-4, to advance to the men’s open final at noon today. Connell will face Randy Snow of Austin, Texas, an eight-time U.S. Open champion, who defeated David Hall of Australia, 6-4, 6-4.

Brad Parks of San Clemente reached the men’s doubles final (2 p.m.) with Rick Slaughter of Nashville. Parks is also in the 10 a.m. mixed doubles final with partner Vandierendonck; they will play the team of Jim Black of Long Beach and van den Bosch.