Tennis stars Halep, Williams and Hingis heading to SA

Three former world No 1 players will compete in the Africa Cares Tennis Challenge in Johannesburg next month, it was revealed on Wednesday.

Organisers confirmed the field for the event would feature Romanian star Simona Halep, American icon Venus Williams and Swiss veteran Martina Hingis.

Halep, a two-time Grand Slam winner, reached the quarter-finals at the Australian Open and the fourth round of the US Open this season.

While Williams and Hingis, who are both 41, are past their best, they too are major drawcards, having won 12 Grand Slam singles titles between them.

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The Africa Cares tournament, open to spectators who have been vaccinated, will take place on December 18 and 19 and will raise awareness of gender-based violence.

There will be 2 000 tickets available for each day’s action.

“I look forward to participating in the Africa Cares Tennis Challenge to help not only raise awareness on gender-based violence but help encourage a change in violent behaviour,” said Hingis.

Other players participating in the tournament ae expected to be unveiled over the next two weeks.