Following the rapid rise of the sport in the region, the highly anticipated RCS Rising Star Tennis national finals will have an appropriate new home this season, with the three-day showpiece taking place at Polokwane Tennis Club in Limpopo between 27-29 October 2023.
Tennis South Africa (TSA) and the RCS Group, in partnership with the City of Polokwane Municipality, are excited to announce Polokwane as the new host city for the event, which is a significant milestone for tennis in the region.
The RCS Rising Star Tennis national finals will bring to a close the annual nationwide school championships development competition which this year included the participation of more than 720 schools in the primary school and wheelchair tennis categories across all nine provinces.
Previously, the national finals of the popular series were held either in Johannesburg or Pretoria, and the year's decision to move the event to Polokwane is a testament to the remarkable growth of grassroots tennis within the province.
One particularly outstanding achievement was the record-breaking participation of schools in this year's Limpopo provincial championship. This milestone is a significant accomplishment for the province since the inception of RCS Rising Star Tennis in 2019.
Equally impressive was the diverse representation of schools from quintile 1 to 3 categories, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.
Tennis SA President, Gavin Crookes, expressed his enthusiasm for the new host location, stating, "Our decision to select Polokwane as the host venue stems from the remarkable growth in grassroots tennis participation within the province. We have also taken note of the notable improvements in the state of tennis facilities within the city, which have not gone unnoticed. We applaud the City of Polokwane for their investment in the tennis facilities which enables us to grow the sport and offer opportunities to all communities".
The 2023 RCS Rising Star Tennis national finals in Polokwane promises to be an event to remember, bringing together the nation's top young tennis talent and showcasing the growth and diversity of the sport.