Lowveld’s 2024 tennis season in full swing
The young tennis stars put it all on the line, competing for the top spots in their respective age categories.
The new tennis season in the Lowveld started with a bang this past weekend as the district’s young stars hit the courts in Mbombela on October 20 and 21.
Over 90 players, from U8 and U19, competed.
On Saturday, October 21, at Curro, the U8, U9 and U10 age groups took to the courts.
Johandré Neethling defeated James van Coller to finish first in the boys U8s, and Niané de Klerk topped Miani Bronkhorst for the girls U8 title.
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In the U9 category, Levi Page finished first above brother Joshua Page for the boys, and Kukhanya Mbuyane edged Mukhethwa Nemavhidi for the title on the girls’ side.
In the girls U10 draw, Nobayeni Kutumela defeated Anke Broekman for the title with a closely contested 3-2 scoreline.
Babalwa Mathebula won the girls U11 section against Rochelle Gower with a 6-2 victory, and Matthew Grix defeated Carlo Dippenaar 6-2 in the boys U11 category.
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The older age groups competed based on level according to their Universal Tennis Rating, and in division D it was a nail-biter of a final. Kilan Kotze defeated Sebastian le Roux 7-5, 7-5. In division C, Brent Bethell defeated Julia de Lange 6-3, 6-2 in the final. Joshua Hoffman defeated Thembalethu Mathebula 6-4, 6-2 in the division B final, and division A was won by Chané Steyn who beat Alexander Combrinck 6-2, 6-4.
The Lowveld Junior Tennis Association’s AGM was also held on Saturday night, and it was excitedly voted that there will also be doubles played in two of the five closed tournaments this coming year.
“I am proud of all the players who competed this weekend, especially in the intense heat on Saturday. Lowveld Junior Tennis is boasting healthy competition at each tournament, and the association also plans to host their interdistricts team practice in the Kruger Park next year,” said the chairperson, Japie Janson.
The following Lowveld closed tournament will be held on December 1 and 2, and players can visit www.lowveldjuniortennis.co.za to obtain more information and register.
