Gauteng Central dominates the U13 Inter-Provincial TSA Primary Schools Tennis Tournament to claim tennis title
A dominant Gauteng Central side claimed national honours at the U13 Inter-Provincial tournament, showcasing depth, teamwork, and composure throughout four demanding days of competition in Bloemfontein.
Gauteng Central have been crowned national champions after a dominant performance at the U13 Inter-Provincial TSA Primary Schools Tennis Tournament.
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The four-day tournament, held in Bloemfontein from January 8 to 11 and organised by Tennis South Africa, brought together 16 teams from across South Africa’s nine provinces. Each province fielded a squad of six boys and six girls, who competed in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles matches.
Gauteng Central proved their strength across all formats and convincingly sealed the title. In the final round, they defeated Western Cape Cavaliers A by 25 games to 11, underlining their control and consistency throughout the week.
The team was led by manager and coach Merisa Steyn, alongside coach Jason Fletcher. Their success was built on strong performances from the U13 A girls’ team, which included Hidaya Japarova, Georgia Frankish, Ava Molyneaux, Gabriella Miniggio, Teha Maharaj, and Zingce Mvana. They were well supported by the U13 A boys’ team of Zachary Joyce, Takuto Kasahara, Cole Joyce, Anroux V Gaalen, Anesh Naidoo, and Liam De Wet.
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Adding to the celebrations, four players from the Gauteng Central squad have been selected for the SA U13 Schools team for 2026. Zachary Joyce, Kasahara, Cole Joyce, and Japarova, who was named as a non-travelling reserve, will represent South Africa at the national level.
“This victory is a testament to the incredible dedication of these young athletes and the cohesive unit they have become,” said Steyn. “They handled the pressure of a prestigious TSA Primary Schools Inter-Provincial Tournament with remarkable composure and fought for every point.”
The tournament was widely praised for its organisation and competitive standard, with matches played in hot conditions on the Bloemfontein courts. Officials and coaches noted the high level of sportsmanship and skill on display, pointing to a promising future for junior tennis in South Africa.
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