Rivonia Tennis Club: Serving with purpose

Members of the Rivonia Tennis Club participated in the South African Junior Nationals during the April school holidays.

“Our players did exceedingly well in their respective age groups, U12, U14 and U16 with two of our players winning doubles titles in sections of their age groups,” said Derik Swanepoel, who runs the junior programme at the club.

Giving a bit of background to the players’ success, Swanepoel said in February, Gauteng Central held their annual school trials to select the teams which would represent the province at the inter-provincial schools’ tournament.

“Three of our players made the team for the tournament which was held over the weekend of the 27 to 30 April. One of our players Kwena Maphaka was unbeaten in his singles [matches] throughout the tournament and Mikayla Gounden made the team for the third successive year. This year she [Gounden] played in the U19 trials even though she is only 15. She won three of her five matches at U19 level.”

Looking ahead in the year, Swanepoel highlighted that the Gauteng Central Junior leagues started on 13 May until the 10 June. “Our first team was the last year’s champions in this league, and the club’s junior programme was very small and limited before we started entering this league. In only four years, we have been able to develop a strong enough junior section to be able to win this league. We would like to wish all our players luck in the league.”

Swanepoel said the club’s adult section was growing year by year with a lively social vibe and their first and second men’s teams were in the Premier League with the women playing in the Bundes League. “The adult section [30 years and above] also competed and excelled at the National Championships held in February.”

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