The competition was strong, but many Lowvelders prevailed in their respective age groups in this past weekend’s Suzuki Nelspruit Lowveld Slam, the annual spring Tennis South Africa (TSA) tournament hosted in Mbombela.
The first victorious Lowvelder was Laerskool Nelspruit’s Murunwa Nemavhidi, who defeated Kutlwano Maremeni in the girls’ U12 final, 6-3, 6-0. Murunwa and Kutlwano then partnered up and won the doubles final against Lethabo Chiloane and Thubelihle Shongwe, 6-4, 6-0.
The boys’ U12 gold section was won by Seth van den Berg, who beat Leander Putter 3-6, 6-3, 10-7 in the final.
The boys’ U12 draw saw Middelburg’s Muller Jacobs victorious against Yusuf Packery, 6-0, 6-1. Muller proceeded to win the doubles with partner Joshua Hoffman, beating Siyanda Mongwe and Vuyo Ndlovu 6-2, 6-3 in the final.
On to the U14s, and on the boys’ side, Gauteng North’s Phillipe Debruin defeated local Mias Bezuidenhout, 6-2, 6-4. Mias partnered with Themba Mathebula to defeat Khaya Chinyangue and Evan Jacobs 6-0, 6-0 in the doubles final.
The girls’ U14 draw saw Simoné Swart victorious against Milan van Heerden, 6-4, 6-3, and the two paired up in the doubles to defeat Jazara Alberto and Shayna Lea for the title, 6-3, 6-2.
In the men’s singles final, old rivals Christian Smith and Heinrich Rootman faced off in yet another titanic struggle, with Smith victorious, 7-6, 6-4. As doubles partners, the two took the title together, defeating Kamohelo Molapo and Noah Snell, 6-0, 6-0, in the final.
Lastly, in the women’s singles draw, Chané Steyn defeated Imaan Packery 6-0, 6-1 in the final. Steyn partnered with Ruzeth de Bruin to defeat Emily Kutumela and Reitumetse Metso, 7-6, 6-3, for the doubles title.
The next TSA tournament in Mpumalanga is the eMalahleni Curro Tournament this coming weekend, followed by the MP Highveld Spring in Secunda in October.
