19 May 2026

The recent hosting of the ITF World Tennis Tour M15 and W15 events in Gaborone marked a significant milestone for tennis development in Botswana and the broader region.

The tournaments attracted exceptional global interest, with more than 500 entries received for the competition. 

The overwhelming response resulted in qualifying draws for both singles events and fully subscribed, highly competitive main draws.

Participants from 28 countries across six continents; North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, took part in the tournaments.

The diversity not only enriched the level of competition, but also demonstrated growing international confidence in Botswana as a safe and capable host of world-class sporting events.

The wide international representation further highlighted Botswana’s growing reputation on the global tennis circuit.

On the court, athletes delivered high-quality performances throughout the tournament, with several matches lasting more than three hours and ending late into the evening.

One of the standout moments came during the men’s doubles quarterfinals, where Ntungamili Raguin and Mark Nawa faced Australian pair Ty Host and Stefan Vujic in a thrilling encounter that attracted one of the tournament’s largest crowds.

Tournament director Nonofo Othusitse said organisers were encouraged by the strong turnout of local tennis fans, including some of Botswana’s top athletes from other sporting codes.

He said such cross-sport support was important for the growth and visibility of tennis in the country and contributed to building a vibrant sporting culture.

“Feedback from key stakeholders has been overwhelmingly positive. Players, fans, media representatives and local sports leadership all commended the event for its organisation and hospitality,” he said.

Othusitse said Botswana also received praise for its safety and security standards, accommodation facilities, local cuisine and the warmth and friendliness of its people.

He said such positive experiences were important in encouraging repeat participation and promoting the tournament within the global tennis community through word of mouth.

Othusitse acknowledged that, as with any inaugural event, there were minor challenges, adding that constructive feedback had been received from stakeholders.

He said organisers were committed to addressing areas that needed improvement in preparation for future tournaments.

Beyond the sporting success, Othusitse said the tournaments generated economic activity through tourism and hospitality, enhanced Botswana’s international visibility, facilitated skills transfer to local organisers and volunteers and inspired young athletes aspiring to compete professionally.

He added that the tournaments also strengthened partnerships with stakeholders and laid a solid foundation for the continued growth of professional tennis in Botswana.

Furthermore, Othusitse said the successful hosting of the ITF World Tennis Tour M15 and W15 events reflected Botswana’s readiness to host professional tennis tournaments and reinforced efforts to commercialise and professionalise the sport.

“Currently, only about nine African countries host either M15, W15 or both tournaments. Botswana is now the 10^th country to host these professional tennis events,” he said.

Other African host countries include Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Burundi, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Angola and South Africa. ENDS