Badenhorst and Kruger sisters achieve success at Curro Centre Court Series
The winners' podium at the Curro Center Court Series, which was presented in collaboration with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Tennis SA in recent weeks, was full of local stars from Pretoria.
South Africans Devin Badenhorst (a former student of the Midstream College who is currently studying in America ) and wildcard entrant Zoe Kruger (who already had the spotlight as a future star on her as a pupil of the Curro Hazeldean School) won the men’s and women’s singles finals in the last week of the Curro Centre Court Series at Curro Hillcrest (Durban) on Sunday.
Badenhorst (20), who was a beaten finalist last week during the second tournament in the series, went one better to win his maiden professional tournament title, defeating number one seed Kris van Wyk 7-6, 6-4 in a brilliant tussle. The match lasted a little more than two hours.
Van Wyk (26), who had, by his own standards, a rather average first two weeks in the series of three tournaments, finally displayed his skills in a match that saw both players deliver a display of power tennis and serving.
Photo: Supplied
“I’ve enjoyed my three weeks of tennis and I always seem to play well on these courts. Winning the doubles on Saturday rounded off an incredible week. To win on home soil really means a lot to me,” said Badenhorst after his victory.
Van Wyk, who has represented South Africa in the Davis Cup and hails from the Cape, relished his first contest against Badenhorst.
“We train together at the various tournaments but this was our first competitive match. Devin had a great game, a big serve, strong at the net and powerful ground strokes,” said Van Wyk.
Photo: Supplied
– Zoe Kruger (21) followed in the footsteps of younger sister Isabella, who took the women’s singles title in the previous week’s tournament, winning 6-2, 6-3 against Russia’s Ksenia Laskutova (27), the number one seed.
“This is my second pro title and both have been in South Africa. I haven’t played in tournaments for a while because of a hand injury and my body was tired through the week. Tennis is a game of many niggles and injuries and I am just happy to be on the court and playing once more. This win makes the effort so worthwhile,” was Kruger’s comment after her success.
In the men’s doubles final, South Africa’s Luc Koenig and Badenhorst defeated India’s number two seeds Ishaque Eqbal and Aryan Shah 6-3, 7-6, while in the women’s doubles final, number one seeds Laskutova (Russia) and Verena Meliss (Italy) defeated the Kruger sisters 6-2, 7-5.
The next Curro Centre Court Series will take place from 1 to 15 December in Stellenbosch, where players will be vying for another all-important title and valuable ATP points.
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