Johannesburg, South Africa – The South African beach tennis revolution hits Sandton next weekend, as part of the Arnold Classic sport and fitness festival.
The Arnold Classic, hosted at the Sandton Convention Centre from Friday 18 May to Sunday 20 May, is a ground-breaking multi-sport event and the brainchild of its co-founder, former Mr Universe and movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The Arnold Classic Beach Tennis Challenge, which takes place at the event, is the first ITF-sanctioned (International Tennis Federation) tournament in South Africa. A temporary beach tennis court, consisting of 90 tons of sand, is being erected on one of Sandton’s most iconic streets, Alice Lane.
Rand Show Challenge winners, Ryan Brookshaw and Tucker Vorster - both of Gauteng North, and Bronwyn Davidson and Caitlyn Klaasen, of Gauteng Central, have been confirmed to play in the men's and women's events, respectively.
Our local men will be testing themselves against several international players - including top 100 world ranked players, Adil Medina of Mauritius and Goda Satoshi of Japan. Meanwhile, Russia's ITF Mixed Doubles World Champion, Liudmila Nikoyan, is the highest ranked player (27) in the women's event.
Tennis South Africa Beach Tennis Manager, Iain Smith, said: “We are very excited to be hosting our first ever international event in South Africa - at the iconic Arnold Classic. The tournament promises to be a spectacle of fun, lights, sound and action, as our best local players take on the world.”
Beach Tennis is an approved International Tennis Federation discipline and South Africa is one of 47 countries around the world where the sport is now being promoted and played. TSA believe that Beach Tennis is the “fun tennis” of the future, as it is a game that can be played by all ages and all playing abilities.
Tickets for the Arnold Classic Africa 2018 can purchased through webtickets on www.webtickets.co.za and/or at Pick n Pay stores.