Bezuidenhout, Matroos claim junior season opener
Joanivia Bezuidenhout and Aiden Matroos were crowned U25 mixed and U16 singles champions respectively at this year’s first Namibia Tennis Association (NTA) Junior Tournament, held at Olympia’s Central Tennis Courts in the capital.
The event attracted 36 top prospects across the U25, U16, U14, U12 and U10 categories in the boys’ and girls’ sections, as they battled for top honours last weekend.
Due to insufficient players for a full draw in the U25 category, boys and girls were merged to allow competitors the chance to face stronger opposition and earn valuable ranking points.
Bezuidenhout’s title race
Bezuidenhout enjoyed an unbeaten run in the U25 mixed round-robin competition. She opened her campaign against Vaniah Mumba, whom she beat in straight sets (6-0, 6-0), before facing Emma Zalto.
She maintained her momentum by winning the first set 6-0 and conceding just one game in the second, sealing the match 6-0, 6-1.
Bezuidenhout’s final match was a tense clash against experienced Henlou du Toit, which was decided by a first-set tie-break. She ultimately came out on top, winning the tie-break and the match 7-6(4), 6-3.
Du Toit, who had earlier beaten Mumba and Zalto 6-0, 6-0 and 6-1, 6-1 respectively, finished second to claim the silver medal.
The bronze medal went to Zalto, who also recorded a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Mumba.
The U25 mixed doubles received no sign-ups.
Matroos’ title race
Competing in the boys’ U16 category, top-seeded Matroos also enjoyed a flawless run, winning all his matches. He opened with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Benji Carstens.
He then cruised past Leon Loone in straight sets (6-0, 6-0) before sealing the title with a dominant 6-3, 6-2 win over second-seed Lazarus Kanelombe.
Carstens’ upset of Kanelombe (6-3, 6-4), combined with his victory over Loone, earned him the silver medal, while Kanelombe secured bronze following his straight-sets win over Loone.
The U16 boys’ doubles draw was merged with players from the U12 and U14 categories, with the latter dominating and claiming podium positions.
U16 boys’ doubles winners:
1 Joshua Diergaardt/Shafishina Shimali
2 Pameni Paulus/Zephan van der Westhuizen
The U16 girls’ category received no sign-ups.
Winners in U14 to U10
U14 girls’ singles: 1 Janice Bezuidenhout, 2 Niamey Marcus [1], 3 Albertina Johannes
U14 girls’ doubles: 1 Marcus/Bezuidenhout, 2 Johannes/Tonata Shikololo
U14 boys’ singles: 1 Shimali, 2 Paulus, 3 Diergaardt
The U12 girls’ category received no sign-ups.
U12 boys’ singles: 1 Jasper Coetzee, 2 Ilan Aisindi, 3 Marcel Diehl
U10 mixed singles: 1 GJ Visser, 2 Faan Vermaak [1], 3 McLauren Karumbona
The U10 mixed doubles received no sign-ups.
‘A lot of promising players’
Speaking to Sport Wrap, tournament director Paula Zalto expressed delight at the turnout.
“It was very nice to see so many of our junior players already enthusiastic about tennis this early in the year,” she said, noting the challenge of balancing training with school commitments.
Zalto highlighted the variety of techniques and strengths on display, adding that the future looks bright.
“[It is quite evident] how much fun these improving and upcoming players are having. If they manage to keep that joy, they can achieve great things,” she said.
She added that the U16 doubles provided the most intense competition, as players from the U16, U14 and U12 categories battled for honours.
“The final even went as far as 19:00. The rallies, the points and the overall support were amazing to watch,” she said.
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