Entries announced for the Spring Open 2019 at the ‘Old Lady of Tennis’ in Ellis Park
DORNFONTEIN -– A star-studded inaugural SA Spring Open 2019 kicks off at the 'Old Lady of Tennis' on 22 to 29 September.
Tennis South Africa has confirmed the entries for the 2019 SA Spring Open tournament to be staged at the Ellis Park Tennis Courts in Doornfontein, Johannesburg.
A star-studded field of able-bodied and wheelchair tennis stars will assemble for the prestigious tournament from September 22 to 29 at the venue better known as the Old Lady of Tennis for its historical association with tennis dating back many decades.
The able-bodied International Tennis Federation US$15 000 Transition Tour and Wheelchair Tennis Grade II combined tournament has attracted more than 100 players from 25 nations including France, Japan, Italy, Israel, Serbia, Curacao, Brazil, Australia, Netherlands, India, Denmark and more.
The South African women’s able-bodied field will be headed by the country’s top ranked player Chanel Simmonds against an all-star women’s line-up, including Caroline Romeo from France, Dutch world number 757 Merel Hoedt and India’s Zeel Desai.
Heading up the men’s field will be world number 413 Tom Jomby from France, who will be looking for his first title in South Africa. Challenging Jomby will be 26-year-old Benjamin Lock from Zimbabwe who is no stranger to South Africa, Austria’s David Pichler, American Alec Adamson and Alexander Donski from Bulgaria who was a member of the Bulgarian team who faced South Africa in the Davis Cup tie recently.
The top five aces will be the strongest opposition for South Africa’s Lance-Pierre du Toit, Charl Morgan and junior star Kholo Montsi.
In the men’s wheelchair tennis event, South African former world number 11 Evans Maripa, who will spearhead the country’s charge, will be hoping to keep the crown at home. Other South African hopefuls include Leon Els and rising star Alwande Sikhosana.
The three locals will face strong opposition from current Dutch world number 9 Tom Egberink, world number 19 Frederic Cattaneo from France and world number 30, Austria’s Nico Langmann.
Spearheading the women’s wheelchair challenge will be Wimbledon semi-finalist Kgothatso Montjane. The world number 5 from Seshego in Limpopo will be the highest-ranked player in the tournament and will be the favourite.
Other notable players in the women’s competition include Mariska Venter, Emmanuel Morch and Charlotte Fairbank both from France and reigning Soweto Open champion Busra Un from Turkey.
In the quads event, two-time grand slam champion Lucas Sithole will pit himself against former world number 1 Shraga Weinberg and compatriot Donald Ramphadi who are among the three top-ranked players set to contest for the crown.
Related article:
https://northeasterntribune.co.za/241051/local-foundation-launch-tennis-talent-scout/
