Two of the most exciting weeks in NWU Sport’s history concluded on Sunday, with the successful hosting of the ATP Potch Open and ITF Ilana Koss International tournaments in Potchefstroom. The tournaments, which ran in back-to-back weeks at the NWU tennis courts from 8 to 21 February, saw international and national tennis players confined to a bio-bubble due to Covid-19 level 3 regulations. This made the task of hosting international tennis tournaments with two top tennis federations that much trickier.

This did not deter NWU Sport, under the leadership of Sheldon Rostron (NWU Sport director) and Heléne Botha (NWU Sport manager: Tennis), from successfully hosting this massive event to critical acclaim with all the players, coaches and relevant personnel.

This was a significant feather in the cap for NWU Sport. It showed it could host major tournaments in these uncertain times, where players had an opportunity to compete at the highest level on world-class surfaces. There were several positives on the court from a South African perspective, with Raven Klaasen and Ruan Roelofse taking the men’s doubles title.

South Africa’s Chanel Simmonds also reached the semi-final of the ITF Ilana Kloss International. Other highlights were the Kruger sisters, Isabella and Zoe, gaining numerous victories against top international players. In the ITF women’s final on Sunday, Nuria Parrizas-Diaz of Spain beat Canadian Carol Zhao in straights sets 6–3, 6–0. In the ATP Challenger 80 Potch Open final, the American Jenson Brooksby defeated the Russian former world number 43, Teymuraz Gabashvili, 2–6, 6–3, 6–0, to take the men’s title. Botha stated that she was proud of the entire team involved in hosting and successfully organising the tournament.

“I am really proud to be associated with NWU Sport and what we achieved during these two weeks. We were Covid-ready from the beginning. The International Tennis Federation and ATP commended NWU Sport for hosting the event in difficult times. We had student volunteers from NWU Tennis, Riaan Venter and the Riaan Venter Tennis Academy who assisted and various ATP and ITF officials. Everyone worked together as one to ensure the tournaments went smoothly,” emphasised Botha. According to Botha, it was also fantastic to see that several elite international players also participated in the event – more than in the previous tournament in 2020, before the Covid-19 pandemic abruptly interrupted it.

“There was a strong line-up of players at the tournament and the tennis was of excellent quality. It was also important to make sure the players were kept safe in the bio-bubble. Players had to adjust and get used to the rules and regulations, which, after a couple of days, became easier.”

Botha also praised the volunteers and Dr Emile Kotze and his medical staff, who made sure that everything went according to schedule. “The success of this tournament gives us a platform to continue hosting major events and improve for future events on all courts – hard, grass and clay. I want to give a thank you to everyone involved.”