The cream of the crop rose to the top at the ITF Men’s and Women’s $ 25 000 World Tour events in Potchefstroom today (Sunday, 8 March) with Benjamin Bonzi (France) and Samantha Murray Sharan (Great Britain) winning the respective singles titles.

Benjamin Bonzi outlasted Tobias Simon of Germany 7-6 (14-12) 6-4 in a closely fought match. Bonzi hit some unbelievable winners under pressure and kept a cool head despite Simon’s monster serve giving him an advantage at times. The 28 year-old Simon hit 16 aces as opposed to Bonzi’s six, but the third seeded Frenchman kept his momentum at crucial times to win the title. His cross coart forehand winners were a delight to watch and this victory puts him in good stead for the upcoming ATP Challenger 50 tournament in Potch this coming week.

In the women’s final, Murray Sharan came back from a set down to beat Marina Melnikova Melnikova 2-6 6-2 6-4 in a superb final. Melnikova breezed past Murray Sharan in the first set, taking the spoils 6-2 in just under 30 minutes. It looked like the Russian was on a mission from the first serve as her calculated winner and clever baseline play gave her an early advantage.

Murray Sharan though would not be defeated easily and broke back in the second set on Melnikova serve to take a 2-0 lead. The momentum was now with Murray Sharan as she took the second set 6-2. Melnikova was also increasingly frustrated at this point and needed to regroup with a deciding set still to play.

Things were tight with both players trading serves with the score reaching 3-3 after a couple of tight rallies. Murray Sharan once again broke the Russian with some fierce forehands and backhands as her experience and will to win took her to singles and doubles glory in Potchefstroom.

Finals results:

Singles

Ilana Kloss International (Women’s $25,000 ITF World Tour)

Samantha MURRAY SHARAN (GBR) [1] bt Marina MELNIKOVA [2] (RUS) 2-6 6-2 6-4

North-West University Open (Men’s $25,000 ITF World Tour)

Benjamin BONZI (3) (FRA) bt Tobias SIMON (GER) 7-6 6-4