31 Jul 2024

Botswana will host the Tennis World Tour Juniors at the National Tennis Centre this month. 

The two-week long tournament will start with the World J30 tournament from August 12 to 17, followed by the J60 from August 19 to 24.

According to the Botswana Tennis Association president, Oaitse Thipe, the tournaments carried different world rankings; hence a lot of athletes from around the world would be coming to Botswana. 

Thipe said it was a welcome development that Botswana was given the hosting rights immediately after the end of the Davis Cup Africa Group V event.

“It also shows that Botswana is a good destination and a lot of players from the USA, Europe and Asia have signed to come and play in these tournament,” he said. 

He said the main objective of the players would be to accumulate points that would enable them to qualify for the Grand Slam, Junior Wimbledon and the Junior USA Open.Thipe said it was important that Botswana hosted the tournaments regularly as that would give local tennis players the opportunity to get the much needed points without incurring travelling expenses. 

He said th local players to watch during the tournament include amongst others Ntugamili Raguin.

“Should Ntugamili do well, we could see him at the end of the year qualifying for the Australian Junior Open in January,” he said. 

Thipe said Mark Nawa, Esi Molefe and Chelsea Chakanyuka were currently trying to secure scholarships to reputable universities, adding that it would be important for them to do well in the tournaments so that they could attract reputable universities. 

Should the players be absorbed in the universities, he said they would have an opportunity to play in division one in the US in January.

He said Naledi Raguin, who wished to turn professional, would be seeded number one in the tournament.

He said he hoped she performed well to improve her rankings so that she would be in good standing when she starts her professional career next year.

Also, he said Botswana’s top official, Gaone Poane, who is currently officiating at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, would be available for the two tournaments. Ends