19 Jan 2015

The Botswana junior tennis team finished with no medals from the ITF/ CAT Southern Africa Junior Championships held in Gaborone last week.

The second-leg of the eight day championships came to an end at the National Tennis Centre on Saturday January 17, with South Africa scooping nine gold medals from a possible 12. Like in the first-leg, local players wilted in the face of stiff international competition, as many of them got knocked out in the early rounds.

Botswana fielded a total of 20 players in round-one of the girls and boys’ singles, the highest number by any of the 11 participating countries. However, just three local players managed to make it to the quarter-finals, while 10 suffered round-one defeats.

Botswana’s best performance was in the girls under-16 singles where Tshegofatso Tsiang thrashed Malawian Gloria Christopher 6-0, 6-2 after receiving a bye into round-two.

Though she lost 6-3, 7-6 to eventual champion Carmen Fitchardt of South Africa in the quarter-finals, Tshegofatso finished the tournament in fifth position after defeating Fitia Ravoniandro 6-4, 6-2 in the playoffs.

Leungo Monnayoo also made it to the quarter-finals in the girls under-12 singles after handing Niria Calunga of Mozambique a 6-0, 6-0 whitewash in round one, but lost to Maria Mostert of South Africa 6-0, 6-0 in the quarter-finals. She then faced Mozambican Ana Vasilis in a gruelling seventh place playoff which she eventually won 3-6, 6-4, and 10-2.

Another player who performed well was Thato Holmes who reached the boys under-14 quarter-finals after defeating Brett Hounsel of Zimbabwe 6-3, 6-1 in round-two. However, he lost to Codie van Schalkwyk of Namibia 6-1, 6-1 and ended up settling for position eight after losing the playoff match 6-3, 2-6, 10-7 against Valentine Munyawiri of Zimbabwe.

South Africa emerged as champions after winning nine gold medals in the boy’s under-14 and 16 singles and boys under-12 and 14 doubles, as well as the girls under-14 and 16 singles and girls under-12, 14 and 16 doubles.

Malawi won the boys under-12 singles, Madagascar the girls under-12 singles, while Angola won the boys under-16 doubles. Mauritius finished in second place while Madagascar came third in team awards. The championships served as qualifiers for the African Junior Championships that would be held in Tunisia.

ITF development officer for Southern Africa region, Ryan Kruger said the championships were the biggest ever to have been hosted by the region with 115 players from 11 countries participating. He also said the improving level of play showed that the southern region was progressing well in tennis. ENDS