Expect a bigger and better second edition of the Mbombela Open (MO) next year, warns tournament director Sabelo Mathebula.

Mathebula was speaking at the launch of the 2025 instalment of the tennis tournament at the Skukuza Community Centre in the Kruger National Park on November 2. “We’re building on the foundation of the debut tournament, which was well received by the tennis community and everybody at large,” Mathebula explained.

The first edition of the tournament attracted some of the big name players in the country, both in the junior and open section, with SA Davis Cup player Alec Beckley walking away with the men’s singles and doubles crowns. It also attracted players from Lesotho, Mozambique and the Kingdom of eSwatini.

But what’s in place for next year? Organisers are expecting players from Asia, the Americas, Europe and those from this continent to participate in the tournament. The prize pool for the tournament has increased to R500 000, making it the biggest prize money tournament in the country.

At the launch in early November, Tennis SA president Gavin Crookes, as well as the MEC for culture, sport and recreation, Leah Mabuza, pledged their support to the MO. In the lead-up to the tournament, the MO will start with Social Tennis Sundays at the Nelspruit Tennis Club as a way of introducing the people of Mbombela to the sport.

The tournament will be hosted at the Nelspruit Tennis Club from May 14 to 18, 2025.