For the first time since 2022, new names will be added to the Mopani Pharmacy and Chicken Licken Nelspruit Tennis Club honours board following the conclusion of the 2026 Club Championships over the long weekend of June 12 to 16.

On Friday, June 12, Chané Steyn and Reinhardt Trollip were crowned this year’s women’s and men’s singles champions after notching up straight-set victories against Simoné Swart and Wernich Rossouw, respectively.

The finals weekend got underway with the women’s singles final between Steyn and Swart. Both players had cruised into the championship match, setting up a clash between the tournament’s top two seeds.

Steyn was chasing her maiden club title, while Swart was aiming for a third consecutive crown. With history on the line, the crowd was treated to a high-quality contest.

Steyn emerged victorious, winning 6-1, 6-2. The opening set was closely fought until Swart suffered a heavy fall, which disrupted her momentum. Despite carrying the injury, the defending champion showed great determination and fought until the final point.

Chané Steyn.

The men’s final followed, with Trollip and Rossouw meeting in a championship match for a second time in as many weeks after their thrilling Lowveld Closed Three final, which Trollip won 6-3, 4-6, 15-13.

This encounter was far less dramatic, as Trollip produced another composed performance to claim a 6-3, 7-5 victory and win the club title on his debut.

The singles programme concluded with the division B final between Matthew Grix and Tonny Magorokosho on Sunday, June 14. Both youngsters booked their places in the final by defeating club veterans Wiseman Nkambule and Bruce Whittaker in straight sets.

Matthew struck first by breaking serve early in the opening set before taking it 6-3. The second set followed a similar pattern, although this time it was Tonny who secured the early break. However, he was unable to serve out the set, allowing Matthew to fight back and seal a 7-5 victory.

At just 11 years old, Matthew became the youngest division B champion in the club’s history.

Attention then shifted to the doubles finals on Youth Day.

In the men’s doubles final, Schalk Schutte and Joshua Hoffman faced Trollip and Warno Smith. The match went the distance, with Schutte and his protégé prevailing 6-2, 1-6, 10-5.

Joshua completed a memorable day by partnering Steyn to a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Swart and Lefa Moganedi in the mixed doubles final.

In the women’s doubles, sisters Simoné and Miané Swart claimed the title, while the mother-and-daughter duo Dikeledi Lee and Ditebogo Choma finished as runners-up.

“We congratulate all the winners and participants, and we’re also grateful to our sponsors, Mopani Pharmacy and Chicken Licken, for their generous support and prizes. We hope the success of this year’s Club Championships will inspire even more players to participate in future,” said club chairman, Teddy Ndlazi.