Top tennis player, Maripa and Montjane, ace Joburg Open

Limpopo top seeds, Evans Maripa and Kgothatso Montjane, remained on course on Monday after powering past Thato Tsomole and Mabel Mankgele respectively to advance to the semi-final round of the Joburg Open, an International Tennis Federation (ITF) level 2 tournament which got underway at the Arthur Ashe Tennis Center in Soweto on Sunday.

South African number 1 men’s ace, Maripa, who recently captured two titles in Israel, continued his winning streak to trash compatriot Thato Tsomole 6-1 6-0 in the singles quarter-final round in Jabavu. “I’m very happy with my results today. I played amazing games against my opponents and dominated throughout the match. It’s always best to start a tournament with a good performance,” said Maripa.

The world number 12 played against top junior, Alwande Sikhosana yesterday in the semi-final round and beat him 6-0 7-5(5).

In the women’s event, the country’s leading player and world number 8, Montjane, lived up to the crowds’ expectation as she pulled off a sensational victory over country-girl, Mabel Mankgele with 6-0 6-0 on Monday. Montjane faced former world number 1 junior, Mariska Venter, in the semi-final round.