Tucker Vorster knocked out on opening day of Futures tournament

“I wasn’t well on court, I was cramping and had a migraine throughout the match. I was unsure whether to play or not but felt I should give it a go but it didn’t work out like I hoped” said Vorster.

Top seed Dean O’Brien said he “felt real good” and “played a much better match” in his 6-1 6-2 win over Richard Ashforth in the all South African first round clash.

Third seeded Fritz Wolmarans also of South Africa was a comfortable 6-1 6-2 winner over Croatian Stefan Merunka while last week’s champion, Nik Scholtz ousted American Anderson Reed 6-1 6-4.

There were two upsets in the women’s singles. Last week’s unseeded winner, South Africa’s Ilze Hattingh continued with her good form when she upset countrywoman and fifth seed Michelle Sammons. In the “battle of the champions” Hattingh beat Sammons, winner of the first Sun City Futures event, 6-0 2-6 6-1.

In the second upset in the women’s draw Poland’s Agata Baranska shocked eighth seeded American Casey Robinson 6-3 6-1.

Top seed in the women’s singles, Chanel Simmonds needed less than an hour to beat Warona Mdlulwa (South Africa) 6-1 6-0. In round two Simmonds will come up against German Anelie Intert.

Seeded South Africans, Madrie Le Roux (3) and Natasha Fourouclas (4) also won through to round two. Le Roux beat New Zealander Chelsea Te Tai 6-2 3-6 6-1 and Fourouclas beat Vanja Klaric of Serbia 6-1 6-4.

– Sapa