Els wins third Pretoria Open wheelchair tennis tournament in a row
Leon Els from Potchefstroom completed his hat-trick when he won his third singles title in a row in the Airports Company South Africa Pretoria Open for Wheelchair tennis players.
South Africa’s Leon Els has claimed his third title in the Airports Company SA Pretoria Open wheelchair tennis tournament.
At the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Futures event at Rietondale Tennis Club in Pretoria, he made a 6-3, 6-3 clean sweep this week against his doubles partner and second-seed Australian Keegan Oh-Chee.
The defending champion admitted to nerves but raced to a blistering two-setter in a two-hour match against the Australian.
“The start was a little doggy, I was stiff and nervous. Nothing worked in the first two games and Keegan was really good, consistent and relaxed. I fought my way back to 2-all in the first set,” said Els.
“Then something just clicked, I relaxed and everything worked out for me. In the second set, I was 3-0 up and lost concentration then Keegan lifted his game but I came back and closed the set 6-3. I am very excited for being crowned the title winner for the third year in a row.”
Els said he was looking forward to defending his title in the next tournament in Soweto.
Els and Oh-Chee joined forces to face second-seeds Levi Amir and Asi Stokol in doubles competition on team debut. The pair dispatched Amir and Stokol 6-3 6-2 to clinch their first Pretoria Open doubles title together.
In the women’s tournament, Christine Schoenn enjoyed a double-win in Pretoria. The French lady dethroned South Africa’s Rose van der Meer, who toppled top seed Mariska Venter earlier in the semi-final.
Schoenn disposed of Van der Meer in the women’s singles final clash with 6-2, 6-1 to clinch her first Pretoria Open title.
Schoenn said she played her best in the tournament and was thrilled to take the Pretoria Open title for the first time. She was pleased with her decision to visit South Africa for the Futures tournament this year.
“It is my first time coming to South Africa to play a Futures tournament and I am very excited to have won this title on my first Futures event in the country,” Schoenn said after the game.
An an hour after her singles final, the French lady partnered with Lethabo Shai to victory in the women’s doubles final. The pair whipped South African duo of Mariska Venter and Rose van der Meer 4-6, 6-3, 10-7.
Another South African to capture a title was Bongani Dlamini, who demolished his compatriot and second-seed Danny Mohlamonyane 6-2, 6-2 to secure his fourth quads singles title. The two were meeting for the third time in the Pretoria Open final round and Dlamini won all encounters.
The country’s top junior player, Alwande Skhosana took just 77 minutes to defeat Cape Town’s Zenani Mncedi 6-4, 6-2 for the boy’s singles title and Nokwanda Hlongwane denies Judith Mdaka the girl’s singles title. Hlongwane beat Mdaka 6-1, 7-5 to clinch the title.
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