South African junior players Devin Badenhorst and Kelly Arends rose to the occasion in the finals of the Curro Junior ITF, an international Grade 5 junior tournament in Cape Town on Friday, claiming the boys and girls singles titles respectively.
Second seeded Badenhorst had to be at his best against Carl Roothman, however, to see off the challenge of his top-seeded compatriot 6-3 6-7(6) 6-4 to claim the boys title at Strand Tennis Club.
Last week, Badenhorst captured his second ITF Grade 5 singles title at the Wanderers Tennis Club in Johannesburg and was overjoyed with having repeated the feat this week.
In the girls’ final, second seed Kelly Arends delivered a showman’s performance as she put down Belgian seventh seed Flo Helsen in straight sets 6-4 6-4 for her second ITF singles title.
The 16-year-old Arends captured her maiden ITF titles last week at the Wanderers Tennis Club in Johannesburg after edging out top seed Leigh Van Zyl in straight sets 6-1, 6-0.
Final Results:
Singles
Boys
2-Devin Badenhorst (RSA) bt 1-Carl Roothman (RSA) 6-3 6-7(6) 6-4
Girls
2-Kelly Arends (RSA) bt 7-Flo Helsen (BEL) 6-4 6-4
Doubles
Boys
Kholo Montsi / Joseph Townes (RSA) bt 2-Devin Badenhorst / Anro Nel (RSA) 6-1 6-3
Girls
1-HeikeJanse Van Vuuren / Leigh Van Zyl (RSA) bt Flo Helsen / Mirthe Moens (BEL) 6-1 2-6 10-2