Local sportSport

Harris’s dream of the 100 club

Rising South Africa’s tennis star Harris shots up 16 places.

Rising South African tennis star Lloyd Harris shot up 16 places on the ATP world rankings to a career high of 145 after reaching the final of the Aptos Challenger in California, USA, over the weekend of August 11.

It was the second week in a row that Harris had reached a Challenger final. The 21-year-old won his maiden ATP Challenger title in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, two weeks ago and then the unseeded reached the Californian final on Sunday losing to fourth-seeded Australian, Thanasi Kokkinakis 2-6 3-6.

This week Harris will be in action in Canada where he got a special exempt into the Vancouver ATP Challenger.

Speaking to the Southern Courier during the Davis Cup Tie Harris said: “I have decided that it will be my milestone this year to reach100 rankings. It is very hard work but the benefit will be that you don’t have to play so much in the minor tournaments to qualify for the bigger ones; you mostly automatically then qualify to play in the major tournaments.”

Harris has almost reached his milestone. Having a few months left, he will most probably get below the 100 world rankings.

Meanwhile, Kevin Anderson remains in the world’s top ten at No. 6 after reaching the last four of the ATP Masters Rogers Cup in Toronto last week. Anderson lost narrowly in the semifinal to 19-year-old Greek sensation, Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (4) 4-6 6-7 (7). This week Anderson will be in action in the ATP Masters Cincinnati event. Anderson is also ranked sixth in the race to London, where the year-end top eight ATP World Championships will be played in November.

FLYING HIGH: The 21-year old Lloyd Harris shot up 16 places on the ATP world rankings to a career high of 145. He is seen here playing for South Africa in the Davis Cup Tie.
Photo: Annette van Schalkwyk

Raven Klaasen moved up two spots on the world doubles ranking to number 21 and remains the country’s highest ranked doubles player. On Sunday, Klaasen and his New Zealand doubles partner Michael Venus reached the final of the Rogers Cup in Toronto, Canada losing to second-seeded Henri Kontinen (FIN) and John Peers (AUS) 2-6 7-6 (7) 6-10.

EYES ON THE BALL: Lloyd Harris shot up 16 places on the ATP world rankings to a career high of 145. Photo: Annette van Schalkwyk

Klaasen and Venus will also be in action this week in Cincinnati where they are unseeded.

Klaasen and Venus are ranked fifth in the race to London for the year-end top eight team ATP World Championships.

Chanel Simmonds remains the highest ranked South African singles (338) and doubles (233) women’s player.

ALL FOCUSED: South African tennis player, Lloyd Harris, working on reaching the 100 rankings on the ATP world rankings. Photo: Annette van Schalkwyk

For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton RecordComaro ChronicleSouthern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.

Remember to visit our FacebookTwitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.zajuliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za

Add us on WhatsApp today! Comaro Chronicle: 079 427 8074 and Southern Courier: 079 404 5789.

Get regular news updates sent directly to your inbox: Newsletter-Signup

Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here.

Related Articles

Back to top button