POLOKWANE – Tennis enthusiasts were spoilt for choice this weekend when the first TSA Baobab Mini Tournament was hosted at the Polokwane Tennis Club, attracting some of the best young tennis talent currently on the national circuit.
The tournament was played on Friday and Saturday, and had the biggest turnout to date.
According to tournament director Ernest Faver, a total of 810 matches were played across the span of the tournament, among the 134 players who entered.
“This event was indeed one for the record books. We were also fortunate to be able to host the tournament on the newly upgraded facilities of this club. The Polokwane Tennis Club now boasts world-class facilities and it is a pleasure enjoying the game here.”
Faver also thanked the Polokwane Municipality for making the club available for the tournament. “We have a longstanding relationship with the municipality, and our endeavours are always well supported by the Department of Sport as well as the municipality, for which we are grateful.”
In the girls u/16 doubles division, local power duo Leago Marokane and Luna Mary Leon Rodriguez defeated Marga Holtzhausen and Gabriella Steytler 6-2, 4-6 and 10-8, while in the girls u/12 doubles division local players Ashley Mhandu and Liah Lucila Leon Rodriguez were too strong for Paula Ouko and Mahlako Legare with a winning score of 6-3, 4-6 and 10-5.
In the u/12 boys double (gold) division, local player Philip Snyman and Nathan Faver defeated Ben-Philip du Toit and Andreas du Toit from Gauteng with 6-1, 6-0.
The men’s doubles was an almost full-house Limpopo spectacular with Thyan Botha and Luke Clifton (Gauteng) defeating Limpopo players TJ Chuene and Refentse Ramokgola by 7-5, 6-3.
First-seeded Zoë Venter from Tzaneen showed her mettle in the division for girls u/16 to beat Kayleigh Stayt (Gauteng) by 6-0, 2-6 and 10-4.
The next TSA Baobab Mini Tournament will be held at the same venue later in the year.
