Young South Africa team named for BJK Cup
The side features 16-year-old Mari-Louise van Zyl, as well as 18-year-old players Naledi Manyube, Suzanie Pretorius and Isabella Kruger.
Four teenagers have been selected by South Africa captain Roxanne Clarke for the national team’s appearance at the Billie Jean King (BJK) Cup Europe-Africa Group II event in Oeiras, Portugal from April 10 to 15.
The national side features 16-year-old Mari-Louise van Zyl, as well as 18-year-old players Naledi Manyube, Suzanie Pretorius and Isabella Kruger.
Van Zyl, Pretorius, and Kruger will all make their debuts in the international women’s team competition, while Manyube retains her place in the squad after making her first appearance last season when South Africa finished fifth in the Europe-Africa Group III tournament in Skopje, North Macedonia.
Despite making her debut, and being no older than most of her teammates, Kruger will lead the national team.
Ranked in the top 400 in the singles division and in the top 1 000 in the doubles category by the WTA, she proved her immense potential by reaching the junior quarterfinals at Wimbledon last year.
“The competition will be quite tough because we’ve moved up a group from last year, but the team is looking very good,” Clarke said after naming the SA team.
“We’re pretty excited about giving these young players a chance to represent their country. We’re really going for it and giving ourselves a chance to move up to the next level. It will be a very tough task, but as always we look forward to the competition and we are ready to give our best.”
Team South Africa:
• Isabella Kruger (ranked 371 in singles and 954 in doubles)
• Mari-Louise van Zyl
• Naledi Manyube
• Suzanie Pretorius
• Roxanne Clarke (captain)
• Leanne Samaai (physiotherapist)
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