Free State and Southern Cape stars shine at Cradock tourney

FREE State’s Matthew Nell and Southern Cape tennis star Naledi Manyube took the top honours when the Cradock mini tournament was held in the Karoo town last weekend.

Attracting a big entry of 126, the tournament was a major success, with all the matches being played in the right spirit.

The event forms part of a series of tournaments under the auspices of Tennis South Africa, attracting players from all around the country.

Bloemfontein-based Nell came up against Port Elizabeth’s Daniel Tam in the U18 final and emerged triumphant only after a titanic struggle.

After taking the first set 6-4, Nell dropped the second by the same margin as Tam showed good fighting qualities. However, the Bloem player seized the initiative in the Super tiebreaker (first to 10 points) which constitutes the third set. He took that 10-7.

The girls U18 final produced a different outcome, with Manyube taking control from the outset against Lente Taljard. She won 6-2 6-1.

In the U16 boys final, Gideon Smith beat Kiano Jonker 6-3 6-0. Other results were: Boys U14 platinum: Richard Kunnke bt Brandon Riesenberg 6-3 6-2

Boys U14 gold: Gerhard van der Westhuizen bt Tian Hattingh 6-1 4-6 6-0 (tiebreaker)

Girls U14: Annika Kleinhans beat Liebe Oosthuizen 7-6 (2) 6-1

Boys U12: Lutkin Kemp bt Robert van Zyl 6-2 6-4

Girls U12 platinum: Luise Janse van Rensberg bt Abigagel Vosloo 6-0 6-1

Girls U12 gold: Martine Collette bt Danelle Theron 6-3 0-6 10-6

Boys U10: Rico Coetzee bt Keagan Grobelaar 7-6 7-6

Girls U10: Keani Schoultz bt Ameli Theron 6-2.