Lize bags her first TSA title
Lowveld tennis players, Lize van Biljon (16) and Deniel Terblanche (12), travelled to Richards Bay this past weekend to play in the Tennis South Africa (TSA) KZN King Cetshwayo Tournament.
In the girls’ u/16 singles event, the unseeded Lize, who is a pupil of Hoërskool Nelspruit, played her first round against Husna Kathrada on Friday afternoon.
It was a battle of slice backhand versus topspin forehand, and Lize prevailed 6-2, 6-2 just before the thunderous KZN storms set in for the night.
No u/16 matches were played on Saturday due to inclement weather, but when she stepped out on the court on Sunday morning, Lize was ready to take the title.
This time, however, she had to battle the blistering wind, as well as an aggressive opponent. She kept her nerve and won the match against top-seeded Nonhlanhla Ngcobo, 6-4, 6-4.
The final against Thobeka Hlongwane started testily, with the KZN native coming out all guns blazing in the first set. Lize steadied the ship and played some amazing tennis to close out the first set and then win the second, eventually claiming the title 7-5, 6-2.
This was her first TSA singles title to date.
Laerskool Nelspruit’s Deniel Terblanche competed in the boys’ u/14 singles event and was unfortunate not to get a match on Friday afternoon due to a walkover and inclement weather.
However, on Saturday morning he was up against number-two seeded Swelihle Maphumulo. The match could have gone either way, but at key moments, Deniel could rely on his first serve to carry him through. He won a high quality match 6-3, 7-5.
In the next round on Sunday, he faced fourth-seeded Sinethemba Mghabi in windy conditions. He started off strong, serving well and putting his opponent under pressure with deep shots, but the KZN player proved better on the day, winning 7-5, 7-5.
Daniel then played against Bongani Nxumalo for the third position, and won that match convincingly, 6-3, 6-3.
