DYLAN Alcott from Australia and Japan’s Yui Kamiji made their first appearance in South Africa a winning one, while world number one Stephane Houdet celebrated a welcome return to the winner’s circle at the Gauteng Open on Sunday, April 3.
The quads final at the Gauteng East Tennis Complex saw Alcott and David Wagner meet for a second time this season since the Australian dispatched Wagner in straight sets in title defence at the Australian Open in January.
Wagner played some of his best tennis in the windy conditions and Alcott was on shaky ground when his American rival won the eighth game, broke serve in the ninth and won the first set 6-3. The 25-year-old Grand Slam champion recovered from the rocky start to win the first three games of the second set. He took the set 6-3, but forced the third set into extra time.
But Alcott was 5-2 down to Wagner in the tie break.
“I pulled a few shots out of back side to win five points on the trot,” said Alcott after winning the tie-break 7-6 (5). “Wags is really good in the wind and if you drop your level, he is tough to beat. I was a bit all over the place until two hours into the match and I was lucky to win. Really, I should have lost this one.”
Alcott will chase his second Super Series title this season at the South African Open from Tuesday, April 5.
Kamiji was delighted to claim her first women’s singles victory this season and also believes the Gauteng Open experience will serve her well in the second UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour event, sponsored by the Airports Company South Africa.
The petite 21-year-old from Akashi won the tightly contested three-setter against world number one Jiske Griffioen from the Netherland’s 6-4 4-6 6-3.
“I’m am very, very happy to win the Gauteng Open,” said Kamiji, who also partnered Marjolein Buis to victory in the women’s doubles. The pair defeated the Dutch pair Griffioen and Aniek van Koot 6-3 7-5.
Meanwhile, world number three junior Alwande Skhosana claimed successive victories in the boys’ singles and Nokwanda Hlongwane clinched the girls’ singles title.
The 15-year-old Skhosana knocked out Mpho Mhlongo 6-2 6-0 and fellow KwaZulu-Natal junior Hlongwane beat Asive Gilifile straight sets 6-1 6-3 to lift her first Level 1 ITF title.
