Despite the heavy rain on Friday July 21, the Lowveld Junior Tennis Association (LJTA) was able to complete its fifth and final closed tournament for the tennis year.
This meant many matches for the kids on Saturday July 22 finished under lights and later than usual. Nonetheless, excellent tennis was played and many new friendships were formed on and off the tennis court.
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In the red ball U8 division, Levi Page beat Johandré Neethling in the boys’ final, and Kiara Kent edged out Niané de Klerk in the girls’. Addison Gower beat Jané Bronkhorst to the girls U9 title, while Aadam Nomani beat Christiaan Nolte on the boys’ side of that age group.
In the girls U10 section, Babalwa Mathebula beat Rochelle Gower, and on the boys’ side, Jude van der Berg beat Matthew Grix in the final. Anika van Immerzeel edged out Abia Pretorius in the girls U11 draw, while Matthys van Niekerk beat Michail Smit in the boys U11 final.
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Onto division D, where Drihan de Klerk defeated Nokwazi Ngcobo 6-2, 6-3 in the final. Division C was won by newcomer Stian Bingle, who beat Scholtz Boshoff in the final, 6-4, 6-4. Jason Stoltz defeated fellow Hoërskool Nelspruit pupil Christiaan Killian in the division C final, 7-5,7-5, while Lefa Moganedi took the division A title. In his last junior match in the Lowveld, Moganedi beat Etienne Swart 6-3, 6-2.
“Apart from the awesome tennis played this weekend, we were also very happy to see the launch of the Lowveld Junior Development Fund,” said the LJTA’s chairperson, Japie Janson. “This opportunity given to the players benefiting from the fund is truly remarkable, and adds to the quality and depth of our junior tournaments. On behalf of the LJTA, I would like to sincerely thank all the sponsors who contributed to the fund.”
The Lowveld Junior Development Fund is a local initiative that uses donations to support previously disadvantaged children in their competitive tennis journey, by supplying them with equipment and contributing towards their tournament entry fees for Lowveld closed tournaments.
Anybody looking to donate to the fund may contact Linda McKenzie on 082 894 1017.
