Bernard a National Finalist:

Bernard Lapointe of Moncton fell in the finals of the National Wheelchair Tennis Championships in Calgary losing 6/1, 6/0 to the #1 seed, 4-time defending National Champion, and 2-time Paralympian Philippe Bedard of Quebec.  Bernard was seeded #4 and he has won 6 matches in a row to get to the finals including preliminary pool play match wins over Shawn Courchesne of Ontario 6/0, 6/0, Gary Regan of British Columbia 6/1, 6/1, #6 seed Jonathan Tremblay of Quebec 6/1, 6/3, and Jason Betker of Manitoba 6/1, 6/4.  He finished at 4-0 and first in his pool which advanced him into the championship quarterfinals where he defeated #5 seed Thomas Venos of British Columbia by scores of 6/2, 5/7, 6/1.  He then upset the #2 seed Marko Golic of Ontario in the semifinals winning 6/4, 7/6 to earn his spot in the finals.  The only other athlete to reach the final of the National Championships was Peter Cameron now living in Moncton who actually won the event in 1990 and was the finalist in 1989, 1991, and 1994.  Bernard also made it to the semifinals in men’s doubles where he and partner Jonathan Tremblay of Quebec lost to the #2 seeds.  Congratulations to Bernard on a great weekend and a great final result.  He finished 5th at the National Championships last year.