SOUTH Africa’s Khololwam Montsi and Russian Polina Leykina repeated their week one heroics as they won the men’s and women’s singles titles at week two of the Curro Centre Court Series, part of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Tour, at the Curro Hillcrest courts on Sunday (July 12).

Montsi, who had a below par tournament last year where a quarter-final defeat was his best effort, came up against Israel’s Ofek Shimanov, in a match which delivered some powerful tennis and lasted nearly two hours before Montsi triumphed 6-3, 6-4.

Two breaks of serve was enough for Montsi to seal the first set as he was taken to deuce three times on his serves and made to work hard to stay ahead.

The second set saw some epic rallies as both players moved each other around the court, Montsi lying flat on his back to get his breath after one such point.

While both players enjoyed a break of serve early in the set, it was Montsi who broke back to lead 5-3, only to return the favour as he failed to close out the match on his serve.

He broke Shimanov for the third time in the next game to claim the men’s M15 title and keep his hopes alive for a third consecutive title heading into week three.

“This match was a real battle. Ofek made me run a lot and he is an aggressive player. It wasn’t easy and I had to call on my terrier instincts and chase everything down,” said Montsi.

For Shimanov, the final was one better than last week’s semi-final loss and he was gracious in defeat.

“Kholo deserved to win. He played really good tennis and I was battling to get to the balls in the end.”

 Egypt’s Jana Hossam Salah gave a good account of herself in the women’s W35 final, but seventh seed Leykina nullified Hossam Salah’s naturally powerful game to win 6-4, 6-2.

Also read: Learners head off to Germany for Summer Camp Programme

Using high returns that drove the Egyptian to the back of the court and forced her to go for her shots, thereby creating the error, Leykina may not have looked pretty, but she was effective.

“I lost in one of the women’s singles finals last year and made a promise to put that right and a year later, I have won two in two weeks with a third hopefully on the horizon,” said Leykina.

“I am shorter than most players and conditions here allow me to slow the game down and it’s given me two titles. I can play faster, flatter more aggressive tennis but I adapt to what works for me.”

Hossam Salah, playing in the series for the first time having missed the first week, experienced mixed feelings.

She said it was great to reach the final, but tough to adapt to a completely different game.

“Polina played a totally different game and style to what I am used to and deserved to win. If we meet again, I know what to expect,” she said.

In the men’s doubles, South Africans Devin Badenhorst and Luc Koenig (2) defeated the second seeds Giulio Perego (Italy) and Rocco Piatti (Monaco) 4-6, 6-3, 10-5 (match tiebreaker).

Number one seeds Astrid Cirotte (France) and Jenny Duerst (Switzerland) claimed the women’s doubles for the second consecutive week, winning 4-6, 6-2, 10-7 (match tiebreaker) against Russians Leykina and Ksenia Smirnova.

Week three of the series continues at the same venue, finishing on July 18.

For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Click to subscribe to our newsletter here