Tennis SA this week hosts a TSA International Beach Tennis tournament at Clubview Tennis Club in Centurion. The tournament got underway on Monday and finals are scheduled to be played on Thursday, 13 May 2021.
The event is contested in five categories - Mens Doubles, Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Junior Boys Double (under-18) and Junior Girls Doubles (under-18).
While COVID-19 still has a major impact on international travel, the event sees local players battle it out for honours and allows local players an opportunity to gain valuable international ranking points.
Top ranked SA players Kyla Yelverton (ITF 111) and Helga Jeske (ITF 118) are both hoping to break into the top 100 on the ITF International rankings this week, while Jody Claassen (ITF 139) is looking to move closer to the top 100 in the men’s section.
Current and former national team members Frans Ledwaba, Ryan Brookshaw and Lionel Jarrard are all looking to make a statement this week to better their international rankings.
TSA National Beach Tennis men’s champions, Niel and brother Herman Hendriks are making their debut as well as national ladies champion Lisa Hibbers and finalist Laeticia Lourens in the ITF Beach Tennis event and are also hoping to take their recent form forward over the next few days.
The TSA International Beach Tennis tournament will be followed by the Arnold Classic, which will also be held at Clubview Tennis Club in Centurion from 14 - 16 May 2021.
RESULTS
Boys:
Having completed the round robin phase of the inaugural boys section in beach tennis the teams of Lehlogondo Kgatle / Reorapetse and Eric Matjiane / Tshepang Tlhatlha finished top of their respective groups and will face off in Thursday’s late afternoon final for the title.
Men’s Doubles:
Quarter Finals:
1 Jody Claassen / Frans Ledwaba bt Erick de Jager / Francois van Wyk 63 62
Niel Hendriks / Lionel Jarrard bt. Tshepang Chaane / Tyron Mnguni 62 60
Philip Franken / Fabian Viljoen bt. Herman Hendriks / Reinhard Pelser 61 67(5) 10-1
2 Ryan Brookshaw / Reynard Steenkamp bt. Gerhard de Jager / Joubert Lamprecht 63 61
Women’s Doubles:
Round Robin:
Group A:
1 Kirsten Pocock / Natasha Webber bt Vanessa Gartland / Estelle Riddick 63 76(4)
Helga Jeske / Lisa Hibbers bt Tshegofatso Moreku / Precsencia Ndlhovu 60 60
Kirsten Pocock / Natasha Webber bt Moreku / Precsencia Ndlhovu 60 62
Helga Jeske / Lisa Hibbers bt Vanessa Gartland / Estelle Riddick 61 60
Group B:
Joane’ Janse van Rensburg / Kyla Yelverton bt Laeticia Lourens / Celeste Riddick Claassen 67(0) 64 10-5
Amy Olivier / Tamara Pieters bt Lesedi Maluleke / Ofentse Mphahlele 60 60
Joane’ Janse van Rensburg / Kyla Yelverton bt Lesedi Maluleke / Ofentse Mphahlele 60 61
Amy Olivier / Tamara Pieters bt Laeticia Lourens / Celeste Riddick Claassen 63 64
Mixed Doubles:
Quarter Finals:
1 Kyla Yelverton / Jody Claassen bt. Lesedi Maluleke / Tshepang Chaane 60 61
Tamara Pieters / Ryan Brookshaw bt. Lisa Hibbers / Francois van Wyk 64 60
Laeticia Lourens / Lionel Jarrard bt. Estelle Riddick / JT Prinsloo 60 61
Celeste Riddick Claassen / Philip Franken bt. 2 Kirsten Pocock / Colin Pocock 62 63
Semi final action heats up in Centurion as nigh falls and despite winter nearing, the action on the sand promises to be hotter than ever with players looking to qualify for Thursday’s finals in the Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles events.
In the Women’s Doubles the two groups are still live with Wednesday evening’s head to head matches determining not only the respective group winners, but also who will progress to the finals on Thursday.