By Robert Rietmueller
WINDHOEK – Last weekend’s NTA senior tennis tourney produced more than 90 matches in the second leg at the CTC and Police tennis courts in Olympia.
Davis Cup player, Henco Serdyn in a tightly contested final prevailed over Hermann Kuschke 7:6 and 6:4 in the A Section in an otherwise equally balanced match.
In the ladies final, top Namibian player, Juliane Schuckmann, came out tops in her encounter against veteran Amanda Van Wyk in three sets. The 18 year old Juliane, who has improved her tactics considerably over the last year, kept her cool after a slow start losing 1:6 to turn the match into her favour winning the two next sets 7:6 and 6:3.
The Men’s B-Section composed of social players and young aspiring youngsters with 21 players attracted the largest number of entries. Matches in this category matched the drama and passion observed in the A Senior category.
In an epic final of two and half hours, the B championship was played out among two of the youngest junior players in the businesss. Nine year old tennis wizzkid, Connor van Schalkwyk underlined his potential to become a future top tennis player by despatching 12 year old Risto Shikongo by three sets 6:1, 6:7 and 7:5.
The final among these two very promising youngsters was astonishing since the pair beat senior veterans Kuda Chani and Estaban Martin.
The Ladies B Section saw a dramatic final between Joyce Stalls and Elvira Smith of the City of Windhoek Tennis Team. After a long two hour struggle, the match reached its climax when it went into the decisive 3rd set. Unfortunately Elivira Smith hurt her right ankle and had to concede victory to Stalls due to injury.
High level tennis was also observed in the men’s and ladies doubles. In the Men’s A – Division, Nicky Buyes and Rian De Witt were victorious against the much fancied pair of Werner Schuckmann and Christopher Engelhardt 6:3 and 6:1.
The men’s double B Section fashioned out an upset when the junior team of Luke Symonds Mayes and Codie van Schalkwyk prevailed 6:4 and 6:0 against the more experienced Central Tennis Club tandem of Sam Kaulinge and Kuda Chani.
The Ladies Double was won by the veteran pair of Amanda Van Wyk and Rihetta Swarts, stream rolling over the younger combination of Melissa Khupe and Barvely Von Luttichau in straight sets. The final in the mixed doubles was between the family team of Werner and Juliane Schuckman against Imke Jagau and Johan Theron