Theron to compete in Botswana CAT tourneys

Tennis
A young rising Namibia player intend to improve his international ranking by participating in tournaments on the continent
Johre Botha
  • 1 Week Ago 13 November 2024
Namibian tennis talent Johan Theron is preparing for an exciting challenge at the upcoming Central African Tennis (CAT) tournaments in Botswana. The first leg of the tournament kicks off on Sunday until Tuesday. As an under-14 player, Johan will face some of the best young tennis stars from across Africa. With a strong 5th place ranking for this prestigious event, the points Johan earns here will be vital in boosting his world junior ranking.

In a recent interview, Theron shared his excitement and confidence as he heads into the tournament, crediting his hard work in training for the improvements he’s seen in his game. "I’m feeling good going into these matches. My training has gone even better than we expected, especially considering the time we had," Theron said. "One of my biggest improvements has been my serve. It’s much stronger now, which gives me a big advantage, especially at this level where a weak serve can be easily attacked."

Theron also revealed that his serve speed has increased from 112 km/h to 140 km/h from last year. "We’ve worked hard on this, and I’m excited to see how it holds up in the tournament," he added.

The 14-year-old has been training intensely, often putting in three sessions a day and dedicating long hours to refining his skills. His parents have fully supported his tennis career, opting for home-schooling to give him more time to focus on his training. "We’ve had a lot of discussions about my goals. I want to be one of the best players in Africa and, eventually, a top player on the world rankings," Theron explained. "The only way to get there is through hard work, and home-schooling gives me more time to dedicate to my training."

The upcoming Botswana tournaments are a key opportunity for the youngster to sharpen his game and gain valuable international experience. He’s determined to use this event to continue improving and push forward in the junior rankings.

As he faces some tough competition in Botswana, his goal is clear: to rise through the ranks and make a name for himself on the global tennis stage. The second leg of the tournament, which will also be held in Botswana, will further challenge him as he aims to refine his skills and gain the experience needed to reach the top.

As the tournament begins, all eyes will be on, the promising young star from Namibia, as he continues his journey toward becoming one of Africa’s top under-14 players.