The Grand Slam Development Fund Committee (GSDF) has awarded a travel grant to South African Fed Cup squad member Ilze Hattingh and Junior player Zani Barnard both of Pretoria.

The grant will see Hattingh, regarded as one of the country’s top future prospects, competing in tournaments in North Africa and South America from 26 January 2016 to 5 April 2016. Barnard will play in four top tournaments on the international junior circuit in the USA and Australia from 30 November 2015 including the Australian Open Junior Championships in January next year.

Hattingh who competed in the recent Digicall futures series in Stellenbosch said: “I am very happy to have been awarded the travel grant by the GSDF. As a tennis player you travel a lot and traveling can be very expensive, this grant will give me much needed financial help.”

Gavin Crookes, President and Acting CEO of Tennis South Africa said: “We congratulate Ilze Hattingh and Zani Barnard on being awarded travel grants by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Grand Slam Development Fund. This is due recognition for South Africa’s up and coming junior stars and suitable reward for their dedication to and many hours of hard training. The exposure that they will receive to top class international tennis will undoubtedly assist in raising their game to new levels which in turn bodes well for their tennis careers. We wish them well and assure them of our support.”