Tennis takes centre court

The Gauteng East Seniors Tennis Association recently held its inaugural GE Closed Tennis Tournament.

The tournament was played over a number of weekends, at the Parkrand Tennis Complex in Boksburg, and saw players from throughout Ekurhuleni, including Germiston, participating.

The tournament was open to all players within the Ekurhuleni region.

Age groups ranged from u-14 to over 60 years and the tournaments are intended to create more tennis playing opportunities for players and also to assist administrators with player selection for inter-provincial tournaments moving forward.

Weekend one went smoothly and saw some great tennis, with a few upsets in the seeded draws.

However, by finals day, the weather won over, with all the last matches being rained out.

The results were:

• Girls’ u-16 singles:

Final: Dominique Jansen van Vuuren and Anastasia Pesic.

Third place: Bochule Swanepoel

• Boys’ u-18 singles:

Final: Kevin and Andrew Freel.

Third place: Seth Seely and Sheldon Smeyd.

• Women’s singles 20 to over 55:

Final: Debbie van Aswegen and Samantha Johnson.

Third place: Delia Agliotti

• Men’s singles 20 to 35:

First: Reynard Steenkamp.

Second: Craig Sander.

Third: Andries Fourie and Eddie Bishop.

• Men’s singles 20 to over 40:

Final: Nico Viviers and Shaun Gilbert.

Third place: Eben Pieters and Mark Joubert.

• Women’s doubles:

First: Annatjie Naude and Desire Wilson.

Second: Marie Reid and Jean Varges.

Third: Sally Yatt and Ansie Alcock.

• Men’s doubles:

Final: Seth Seely and Julian Pretorius versus Mark Joubert and Conrad Lunderstedt.

Third place: Kevin and Andrew Freel.

• Mixed doubles:

Final: Mark Vos and Alwin Jennings versus Andries Fourie and Jean Varges.

Third place: Robin and Nomvula Baloyi.

The tournament organisers, Marianne Venter and Owen O’Neill, hope to grow this tournament into a leading provincial event in the future, as it is a great platform for all tennis players within the province to not only play the sport, but to gently ease into and prepare themselves for the national tournament circuit by playing against their peers in a more social than competitive environment.

Prize money for winners was sponsored by Altech Nupay, with winners each receiving R400 per win, R200 for runner-up and R100 for third place.

Dates for next year’s GE Closed Tennis Tournament are being looked at in August, next year, but for now the Gauteng East Tennis Association is busy with the last major event of the year, the provincial Summer League, which is open to all affiliated provincial clubs on the East Rand.

This is due to begin in mid-October and will run through to the end of November.

Should any players require more information, they can contact Venter at gautengeast@iburst.co.za, or O’Neill at seniors@getennis.co.za.

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