Clark Moves Into Finals of Wheelchair Tennis

Unseeded Sharon Clark continued to advance through the women’s open division of the 18th U.S. Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships with a 6-4, 6-2 semifinal victory over Mary Ann O’Neill Thursday at the Racquet Club of Irvine.

Clark, from San Jose, will play in her first U.S. Open championship final Saturday. She will face the winner of today’s semifinal match between second-seeded Maaike Smit and third-seeded Daniela DiToro , a rematch of last year’s final.

Smit, from the Netherlands, advanced with a6-0, 6-0 victory over Hope Lewellen (Palos Park, Ill.). DiToro (Australia) defeated fifth-seeded Nancy Olson (Daytona Beach, Fla.), 6-3, 6-1.

In the quarterfinals of the men’s open division, Australia’s David Hall, a former Costa Mesa resident, defeated fifth-seeded Chip Parmelly, 6-0, 6-2. Hall, seeded third, is the defending champion in double’s. Second-seeded Steve Welch (Arlington, Texas) easily handled Eyal Sartov (Israel), 6-0, 6-1.

In the opening round of doubles, San Clemente’s Brad Parks and John Johnston (Gainesville, Fla.) advanced with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Australia’s David Coulston and Miles Thompson of Birmingham, Ala.