Category winners move up in rankings

Tennis
Swakopmund hosted an exciting junior event ahead of the upcoming Masters tournament.
Phillipus Josef
The Davin junior tournament was held by the Namibia Tennis Association at Tennisplatze court in Swakopmund last weekend.

The two-day event on Friday and Saturday featured entries from the Erongo, Otjozondjupa and Khomas regions, with participants in the boys’ and girls’ categories ranging from under-12 to U16, as well as the under-25 men’s category.

The tournament has gained significant traction in recent years and has been established as a crucial fixture on the country’s junior tennis calendar.

According to Daniël du Toit, the national chairperson of junior tennis, stated that the tournament is more than just a platform for competition.

“This event plays an important role in determining the overall rankings of our young players, which will be instrumental in their qualification for the upcoming Masters Tournament in November,” Du Toit said.

The tournament serves as a platform for selection for national representation at the zonals, where the top talents will get the chance to compete internationally.



Tournament history

Past editions of the tournament has highlighted the emergence and growth of stars who have gone on to compete at both national and international level.

Players like Amelie Odendaal and Henlou du Toit are becoming regulars in junior tournaments, performing consistently and building up solid reputations.

Odendaal competed in the U12 girls category last weekend and continued her strong form, having performed admirably in recent tournaments such as the Namibian Open.

Meanwhile, Henlou du Toit, a standout among the U16 boys, has maintained a string of solid performances, including his display at the national junior championships earlier this year.



Final standings

Girls U12: 1 Amelie Odendaal; 2 Emelia Coetzee.

Boys U12: 1 Peter Gathuru won the final against Emilson Ngola, 6-3 6-2.

Boys U14: 1 Gabriel Gurirab; 2 Emery Maboh.

Girls U16: 1 Natalia Ouses; 2 Hilya Nana Campbell.

Boys U16: 1 Henlou du Toit beat Kyle Els in the final, 7-5 7-6.

Boys U25: 1 Logan Blaauw; 2 Jeanre Bruwer.