WINDHOEK – Windhoek’s Central Tennis Courts in Olympia were a hive of activity on Saturday when the finals of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) South/Central Africa Junior Tournament got underway, with more than 100 international players in top class action.
They all had to qualify for the main draw with Namibia being in a favourable position to get 10 boys and 5 girls directly into the main draw. The finals on Saturday attracted a large crowd. Both the boys and girls finals were reported in full by various media houses, while the stage was set with umpires and the best ball boys from the FNB development programme.
Fourth seeded JD Malan from South Africa and the tournament’s No 1 seed Courtney Lock from Zimbabwe, currently ranked No 264 in the global ITF U-18 list, contested for top honors in the boys’ finals.
Although Courtney had more variety to his game, JD‘s powerful serves and great forehand shots eventually prevailed against Lock’s style of play and ended the match with a final score of 6-3 6-4. It was a fine display by the 16-year-old South African, who had recently demonstrated that he is destined for greater heights after becoming South Africa’s U-16 champion. Going into last Saturday’s tournament seeded 4th, JD managed to beat 2nd seed Kris van Wyk in the semifinals.
The girls final saw two, originally not favoured twin sisters competing for the tournament championship. U-16 twins Zani and Lee Barnard also from South Africa went into the tourney unseeded, but managed to put up some splendid performances and made it all the way to the finals. Both sisters had equal opportunities to swing the match either way, but in the end it was Lee who capitalized on most of her chances and eventually won the high quality final 7-6 6-4. On their way to the final the Barnard twins beat several top seeds. Zani trounced No 1 seed Nicole Dzenga of Zimbabwe and compatriot Nadine de Villiers, while Lee defeated 4th seeded Katie Poluta.
Lee and Zani then teamed up for the doubles final, but the top seeded South Africans Nadine de Villiers and Katie Poluta proved too strong for the twins, winning the encounter in straight sets. The boys doubles title was won by 3rd seeded South African brothers Okkie and Francois Kellerman, who beat Hubert Badenhorst from South Africa and Dylan Foo-Kune from Mauritius by 6-3, 7-6 in the final.
By Staff Reporter