Triple tennis crown for Zelda in Cuatro tournament
The tournament is up and running and looks likely to become a regular event.
This past Sunday saw the culmination of the inaugural 2022 Ugu Tennis Association Cuatro Summer Closed Tennis Championships.
The idea of an annual South Coast tournament has been a long-time dream of past UTA chairman Ian Ackerman and finally became a reality when tournament director Martin Pratt (secretary of Umtentweni Tennis Club) initiated it.
Cuatro is Spanish for four, symbolising the four clubs involved – Umtentweni, Uvongo, Douglas Mitchell and Southbroom.
It has been embraced warmly by many South Coast players who are already looking forward to the 2023 edition.
Martin received invaluable assistance from Sharon van der Schyff, who Martin refers to as Mrs Tennis.
Other Cuatro committee members were Ian Ackerman, Chris Connellan and Raj Naganna, all from Tweni.
Starting on October 2, Cuatro spanned eight weeks.
The overwhelming majority of entries came from Umtentweni and Southbroom tennis clubs.
Men’s singles champion was Geoff Borchers (Douglas Mitchell) with David van Tichelen (Tweni) runner-up.
Geoff also won the men’s doubles with Ian Ackerman. Runners-up were Stef Francesconi (Southbroom) and Tisch Roos (Tweni).
Women’s singles champion was Zelda Smook (Southbroom) with Sharon van der Schyff (Southbroom) runner-up.
The same pair won the women’s doubles, with Southbroom’s mother-daughter combination of Renee and Deanne Purtell the runners-up.
Mixed doubles champions were Stef Francesconi and Zelda Smook, making it a triple crown for Zelda.
Runners-up were Richard Short and Sharon van der Schyff, both of Southbroom.
Special thanks go out to our Tournament Sponsors, Luckys Port Shepstone and Tweni Caltex Service Station, much appreciated.
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