International and local junior tennis players served up quality tennis at the 11th NWU/RVTA ITF 1 tournament in Potchefstroom from 22-26 February 2016, when awesome aces, booming backhands, ferocious forehands and voluptuous volleys were the order of the play.
The North-West University and the Riaan Venter Tennis Academy have partnered up to stage two international junior tennis tournaments with the second tournament being played at the Riaan Venter Tennis Academy (RVTA) on the Fanie du Toit sports grounds from 29 February to 4 March.
Both tournaments form part of the International Tennis Federation’s Junior Circuit with junior tennis players from 18 countries participating.
Players will earn world-ranking junior points from both events.
The first NWU/RVTA ITF 1 event showcased the cream of the crop at their very best, where both number one seeds in the boys and girls draw went on to win their respective tournaments.
South Africa’s Bertus Kruger overcame Zimbabwe’s Mehluli Sibanda 6-3 6-3 in a well contested final while fellow South African, Mila Hartig defeated the unseeded Neri Cohen of the USA, 6-1 6-2. Kruger’s biggest attribute in the final was his strong left-handed forehand which he sometimes used to absolute precision on the court to outwit the Zimbabwean.
Kruger also had a much stronger service game as it seemed to trouble Sibanda as the match wore on.
Sibanda made way too many unforced errors and lost a number of points through poor decision making and a lack of killer instinct.
This allowed Kruger to dictate play as he broke Sibanda twice in the first set to go 5-3 up. Sibanda had his hands on his hips and dropped his racket in disbelief after another poorly timed forehand smashed into the net.
Kruger’s dominance continued in the second set as he broke Sibanda’s serve to take a 1-0 lead.
Sibanda carried on fighting in the sweltering heat, though and eventually broke Kruger’s serve to level matters at 2-2.
Sibanda then took the lead 3-2 after a beautiful volley in the fifth game, but that was where the celebration stopped for the Zimbabwean.
Kruger upped his game and soon broke Sibanda twice to take the title, more through his opponent’s unforced errors than anything else.
Sibanda’s woes on serve were highlighted when a double fault gave Kruger the spoils on a silver platter.
The ladies final was a one-sided affair as Hartig dominated and frustrated Cohen, who could not keep up with the speed and accuracy of her opponent.
This was a much greater task for Cohen who was one of the surprise packages of the tournament as she knocked out second seed, Olivia Elliot in the semi-final by 6-4, 7-6, 6-4.
Hartig was all over the court as she hustled and frustrated Cohen whose fairytale run had come to an abrupt end.
In the boys doubles, Matthew Stell and Matthew Johnson beat Michael Copeland and Jordan Sauer 6-4 3-6 [10-7] while in the girls section, Maja Gledic and Minette van Vreden beat Mila Hartig and Imaan Hassim 6-2 7-5. It bodes well for South African tennis if the future stars compete and play well at international tournaments.
Helene Botha, manager of women’s sports at North West University said NWU Potchefstroom was proud to partner Tennis South Africa with the tournaments.
“We are sure that the NWU Potchefstroom environment will add to the experience for these top junior players, and look forward to a hugely successful series.”
Tennis South Africa president, Gavin Crookes said both tournaments were a boost, for tennis in South Africa.
“It is no secret that Tennis SA runs one of the most successful and comprehensive junior tennis programmes in the world.
These two NWU Potchefstroom-hosted international tournaments will not only complement our programmes but will give our local players a golden opportunity of earning world ranking points on their doorstep,” he said.
Look out for results of the NWU/RVTA ITF 2 in next week’s Herald.
See the photos here: https://www.citizen.co.za/potchefstroom-herald/10923/international-junior-tennis-tournaments-in-full-swing/
