Local tennis seniors display their winning prowess

In the men’s singles over-60 section, Barberton’s Christo Esterhuizen beat Theunis Lee 6-3, 6-1 to finish in third place.

Nelspruit Tennis Club’s Wynand le Roux and Corné Oosthuizen from White River Tennis Club battled it out for fifth and sixth place in the men’s singles over-30 category. Oosthuizen was victorious with a 7-6, 6-4 win.

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Johannesburger Jeronimo de Faria-Lopes won the title, beating Nkululeko Mthembu 6-1, 6-3, and giving new meaning to the one-handed backhand. De Faria-Lopes has only one arm, and his serve is better than many men in his age group.

In the men’s doubles over 50, Karel Jacobs and Quentin Otto lost in the semi-finals to Johan Gous and Norman Swart, but managed a third-place finish nonetheless.

Wiseman Nkambule and David Moganedi, who are both from Mbombela, finished first in the men’s doubles over-30 round robin rankings, with Oosthuizen featuring once more in second place with his partner Michael Prinsloo.

He also claimed first prize in the mixed doubles over-30 round robin with visitor to the province Jacqui Grove. They narrowly lost to locals Mari and Wynand le Roux in three sets (6-1, 6-7, 6-7), but still managed to win with their overall number of games.

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Participants were invited to a braai on the Friday night of the four-day tournament, which more than 60 of the 80-plus entrants attended. This was testimony to the spirit of the event. Many players told Lowvelder this was a tournament they came to every single year because it was always well organised and the venue pleasant.

Men’s singles winners
• Over 70 – Rob van der Schyff
• Over 65 – John Coetzee
• Over 60 – Adam Myburgh
• Over 55 – Mark Joubert
• Over 45 – Charl Muntingh
• Over 30 – Jeronimo de Faria-Lopes

Women’s singles winners
• Over 65 – Elmarie Lategan
• Over 55 – Sharon van der Schyff
• Over 45 – Tracey Bulmer
• Over 30 – Marisa van der Laan.