Simmonds crashes out of Sun City event

The top women’s seed at the Sun City Futures 2, Channel Simmonds of Van Riebeeck Park, crashed out of the quarter finals of Sun City’s Futures 2 event on Thursday.

South African junior, Ilze Hattingh, was responsible for the damage and upset Simmonds 7-6 (3), 6-2 to move into Friday’s semi-final.

Simmonds raced to a 2-0 lead in the first set but Hattingh broke back to level at 2-2. The set went with serve until the ninth game when Hattingh once again broke to lead 5-4.

Simmonds promptly broke back and the set went into a tie breaker which Hattingh dominated winning 7-3, giving her the opening set.

In the second set Hattingh stuck to her game plan and did not hold back on her shot play and was always in control. Hattingh broke early in the second set, then held on to win the set 6-3 and match and a place in the last four.

“I am very happy with the win and it will go down as one of my best in my career” said Hattingh following victory.

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SOUTH Africa’s second highest world ranked women tennis player, Chanel Simmonds of Van Riebeeck Park, is looking good in this week’s Sun City Futures 2 event.

Simmonds, who is the top seed player at the tournament, beat Amelie Intert of Germany 6-2, 6-1 in the first round. In the second round she was in devastating form, losing only one game in her 56-minute 6-0, 6-1 whipping of fellow countrywoman, Caitlin Herb.

Simmonds will now play Pretoria junior, Ilze Hattingh.

Presently ranked 237 on the world tennis rankings, Simmonds, who turns 22 in August, is feeling upbeat and confident about the tournament where she’s tournament favourite.

“It’s great to be back in South Africa. These Futures tournaments were great timing for me. To be home for three weeks is a real bonus as I have only enjoyed a few days at home this whole year.”

Simmonds is the top seed for the second of three Futures tournaments which started on and would have been favourite for last week’s Futures 1 but due to her playing in the qualifying of Roland Garros, the International Tennis Federation withdrew her from the singles of the first Sun City event. However, Simmonds did partner with fellow Fed Cup squad member, Michelle Sammons, and won the doubles.

Simmonds said her ranking had slipped out of the top 200 due to not being able to defend her points at the Soweto Open this year. The tournament was cancelled by Tennis South Africa (TSA) due to lack of sponsorship.

“I reached the finals in Soweto last year and moved up to 156 on the rankings but when the tournament was cancelled, I realised that all those points I made would fall off. It’s been hard trying to defend those points but my aim is to capitalise on the next few weeks and months and be back in the top 200 by year end.”

The rankings are of importance to Simmonds as the higher she is ranked the bigger the tournaments she can enter.

“If I am in the world’s top 200, I will be able to get into the WTA and Grand Slam events. This is important for my future career as the prize money and points you earn at that level help you get to the highest level.”

So far this year, Simmonds has travelled extensively on tour, starting off with the Australia swing in January, then travelling South America for two months, Senegal, USA, South Korea and Europe.

Simmonds said it was not all “glitz and glamour” on the pro circuit. “When you are trying to make it the sacrifices and demands are great on the player. You travel alone, stay in weird places where the food and cultures are very different.”

However, Simmonds does have some important support in her current boyfriend, Ruan Roelofse, the South African Davis Cup player.

“Ruan and I have a great relationship and good understanding of our individual needs. He is very supportive and when we can, we play in tournament weeks where the men’s and women’s events are played concurrently at the same venue, like these Sun City events.”

Earl Grainger, South African Fed Cup coach and also a mentor of Simmonds, is at Sun City to watch his charge and the other Fed Cup squad players entered. Grainger said it was important for him to be able to watch Simmonds play matches.

“In an ideal world I would love to be able to travel with Chanel. But with a lack of sponsorship and financial resources it’s not possible. So to have Chanel home for three weeks works well for both of us.”

Bringing back the super squad system would be hugely beneficial, admitted Simmonds. “The super squads of the past produced players like Amanda Coetzer and I think it is singularly the most important aim and objective for TSA to re-introduce this system.

“There are a ton of talented players that would back me on this one. We just have not got the resources required to crack the big time. We need guidance and financial help and this is normally the responsibility of national federations so let’s hope TSA can bring the system back.”

Playing Fed Cup for South Africa rates among the highlights in Simmonds’ career. “I really feel honoured to play for my country. At tournaments no-one wants you to win but in Fed Cup they all want you to win.

“Tennis is such an individual sport, so playing in a team and for your country is great.”

Another career highlight was when Simmonds qualified for last year’s US Open only to draw fellow South African Chani Scheepers in round 1. Scheepers, after beating Simmonds in three tough sets, only had good things to say about Simmonds and her future.