Former professional tennis player Rene Plant is working hand-in-hand with Tennis South Africa (TSA) to promote, develop and improve the status of women’s tennis in the country.
On announcing her Fed Cup squad to do national duty in Montenegro from April 16 to 21, Plant said that she had selected a balanced squad to allow South Africa the best chance of gaining promotion into the Euro/Africa Zone Group II of the Fed Cup competition.
Plant announced her squad on Wednesday as follows:
Chanel Simmonds.
Madrie le Roux.
Katie Poluta.
Minette van Vreden.
Lungile Ntuli.
The team will be playing in the Euro/Africa Zone Group III tournament alongside 20 other countries. The countries have been split into two groups. One group will be playing in Tunisia (10 countries) and the other group in Montenegro (10 countries).
The countries at each venue will be drawn into two pools and a round robin will be played within each pool with each tie consisting of two singles and a doubles rubber.
The pool winners will then play out for promotion to the Euro/Africa Zone Group II.
One team from Tunisia and one from Montenegro will earn promotion.
The Montenegro tournament will be contested by hosts Montenegro as well as South Africa, Andorra, Cameroon, Finland, Ireland, Kenya, Malta, Morocco and Uganda.
Chanel Simmonds, South Africa’s highest-ranked women’s player, will spearhead the challenge. After suffering an injury early last year, Simmonds bounced back strongly towards the end of 2017, enjoying good runs in Senegal and Stellenbosch at the Digicall Futures.
Photo: BLD
Doubles specialist Madrie le Roux, like Simmonds, is a seasoned Fed Cup campaigner. Le Roux has played 18 ties for the country since 2011 and won the African junior doubles championships back in 2016 with fellow countrywoman Ilze Hattingh.
Katie Poluta of Cape Town was one of the most promising junior tennis players in the country, consistently ranked in the top five of each age group she played. Poluta took up a scholarship with the University of Texas and is presently enjoying a stellar run with the Division 1 NCAA team. She will be making her Fed Cup debut.
Minette van Vreden, a South African Masters and national champion, has dominated the junior game and like Poluta makes her Fed Cup debut.
Lungile Ntuli (17) of Cape Town is one of the brightest prospects in women’s tennis in the country. Born in London, Ntuli moved to South Africa with her parents and was based in Pretoria before moving to Cape Town. Ntuli is a provincial player and was selected for the South African High Schools team.
Joining the squad in Montenegro will be former South African Davis Cup player Tucker Vorster, who will act as hitting partner and manager, and Karen Frye, who will be the team physiotherapist.
Plant confirmed that she will be holding a pre-departure doubles camp using former ATP doubles specialist Jeff Coetzee to add value to the doubles games of the selected team.
“Doubles are a key part of every Fed Cup tie and we need to leave South Africa knowing that our girls are best prepared for any doubles rubber.”
Read:
Semi-finals spots at Varsity Cup
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.za, juliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za
Add us on WhatsApp today! Comaro Chronicle: 079 427 8074 and Southern Courier: 079 404 5789.
