SA’s top tennis schools clash in Jabavu
While the 2020 edition only featured primary schools tennis, this year’s edition went even bigger with the inclusion of high school and wheelchair tennis.
The very best of South Africa’s tennis schools clashed in the national finals of the 2021 BNP Paribas RCS Rising Star Tennis Finals last weekend.
While the 2020 edition only featured primary schools tennis, this year’s edition went even bigger with the inclusion of high school and wheelchair tennis. The three-day festival took off on Friday at the Arthur Ashe Tennis Centre in Jabavu, Soweto where the young athletes received one-on-one training tips and education from tennis stars, Kholo Montsi and Kgothatsi Montjane.
Spectators were treated to an exhibition match between ambassadors Carol Tshabalala, Kholo Montsi, Kgothatso Montjane and Alwande Sikhosana.
The final showdown was on Sunday where the champions would be decided. In the boys’ primary schools division, defending champions Grey College retained their throne after defeating Eversdal Primary and Durban Prep, while St Peter’s Prep took home 1st prize, edging out 2nd placed Eversdal Primary and 3rd placed Oranje Primary in the primary school girls’ round.
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Oranje Mesies took home the trophy in the girls’ high schools around, topping both Curro Hillcrest and St Marry’s Waverley, while St Stithians toppled Paul Roos Gymnasium and Grey College to be crowned winners in the high school boys ‘round.
Sowetan school, Adelaide Tambo made home court advantage count, taking home the champions’ trophy in both the boys and girls divisions, despite losing out to 2nd placed Ithembelihle LSEN School in the boys’ first encounter.
“It was very difficult. When you lose the first match you lose a bit of hope but we managed to regroup as a team come out on top. I am very proud of my teammates and that we were able to keep the trophies home,” said Tambo’s Siyabonga Ndumo.
Runner up and third positions went to Filadelfia, Ithembelihle, Helen Frans and Meerhoff respectively.
The event also saw attendance from Gauteng MEC of Sports, Mbali Hlophe, Tennis South Africa CEO, Richard Glover and Gauteng Tennis President, Robin Baloyi among other dignitaries.
“It has been super competitive. I think people got really excited after year one and they started to understand what it is about. As I said the number [of entries] has doubled. One of the most exciting things about year two has been the schools from historically disadvantaged backgrounds. In year one the entries percentage was about 20%, this year it has grown to about 40%. We still have a long way to go but it is really exciting to see this initiative being used to drive change, drive growth and also drive the transformation of tennis in South Africa,” said Richard Glover.
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