When Wimbledon finalist Kevin Anderson matriculated from St Stithians College in Sandton, Johannesburg he had two options, one to turn professional or secondly to further his education and continue his tennis development in a College or University system.
Anderson decided on the latter and took up a tennis scholarship at the University of Illinois in the USA. There Anderson excelled not only at his studies but also on the tennis court.
“I really didn't know too much about college tennis when I was in South Africa” admitted Anderson. “My family didn't have the funding required for me to turn professional or to establish a base in the U.S. where I could play a lot of tournaments and develop my game, which was important. So I took up the scholarship with Illinois which allowed be to create a base and develop my tennis in a proper tennis environment” said Anderson.
The South African was a major part of the University of Illinois tennis teams success playing three seasons of college tennis. He was a three-time All-American in singles and two-time All-American in doubles before turning professional in 2007. Since turning pro, Anderson has climbed to a world high ranking of number 5 reaching two Grand Slam finals (US Open – 2017 and Wimbledon -2018).
Many South African matriculants who are promising tennis players have the option of either taking up a US College scholarship or remaining in South Africa to continue their studies and play tennis in the USSA tennis system.
Tennis South Africa (TSA) also have introduced open singles and doubles events to their Growthpoint Super 8 Series of tournaments which allow men and women players to compete in tournament play at the highest level after leaving the junior ranks. These tournaments, played nationally and during the school and university holidays are popular amongst the South African tertiary education students as well as those who have taken up scholarships in the USA and return home for the vacations.
Recently the USSA championships, run by USSA, were staged in Bloemfontein where fourteen tertiary institutions played in a week long national tournament. The institutions were divided into a A and B section with each section having a A and B pool.
The combined men’s and women’s teams played in a round robin pool tournament and the final log positions were as follows;
A SECTION:
- University of the Free State
- University of Pretoria
- North West University (Potchefstroom)
- Stellenbosch University
- Tshwane University of Technology
- University of Kwa-Zulu Natal
- Vaal University of Technology
- North West University (Mafikeng)
B SECTION:
- North West University (Potchefstroom)
- Nelson Mandela University
- Stellenbosch University
- University of Cape Town
- University of Pretoria
- University of Witwatersrand
- University of Zululand
- University of Limpopo
- Sol Plaatjie University
- Durban University of Technology
Following the tournament, USSA squads were selected as follows;
MEN:
- Arne Nel (University of the Free State)
- Cornelius Rall (University of the Free State)
- Ruben Kruger (University of the Free State)
- Janre VIljoen (North West University – Potchefstroom)
- Hubert Badenhorst (North West University – Potchefstroom)
- Weyers Meintjies (Stellenbosch University)
- Jandre Lessing (Stellenbosch University)
- Reinhard Pelser (University of Pretoria)
- Henco Doman (University of Pretoria)
- Chevaan Davids (University of Cape Town)
- William Thatcher (University of Cape Town)
- Michael Carse (Nelson Mandela University)
WOMEN:
- Lienke de Kock (University of the Free State)
- Reze Opperman (University of the Free State)
- Wilanie van Zyl (North West University – Potchefstroom)
- Margo Landman (North West University – Potchefstroom)
- Nadine de Villiers (North West University – Potchefstroom)
- Anja Lubbe (Stellenbosch University)
- Sinazo Solani (Stellenbosch University)
- Amy Olivier (University of Pretoria)
- Kyla Yelverton (University of Pretoria)
- Elaine van Zyl (Nelson Mandela University)
- Anne Snyman (University of Witwatersrand)
- Kabelo Nankie (University of Limpopo)
Coaches: Riaan Venter and Marnus Kleinhans
The Squad of 24 players will be in a training programme for the next 7 months. USSA plan to use the TSA Growthpoint Super 8 series circuit as part of the preparation for the squad announced below.
A team will then be chosen from the squad players to represent the country in the 2019 Univesiade to be staged in Napoli, Italy in July.