An 18-year-old young tennis player from Pretoria, who was already identified as a future star in his early teens, is slowly but surely making a name for himself on the world stage. Devin Badenhorst was crowned Africa’s junior singles champion at the 18 & under ITF / CAT African Junior Championships in Tunisia last week.

Badenhorst and Heike van Vuuren from Potchefstroom both proved dominant as they won the boys’ and girls’ singles titles, respectively, at the Championships that concluded on Friday in Tunisia.

In the under-18 boys’ section, third seed Badenhorst of JL’s Tennis Academy in Pretoria, brought down the house when he beat top seed Connor van Schalkwyk from Namibia in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 to lift the African boys’ singles trophy.

“I was close to making the top 100 early last year but I couldn’t do it because of an injury. However, I knew that if I won the singles and doubles titles here in Tunisia, I would break into the top 100,” commented 17-year-old Badenhorst.

Badenhorst enjoyed a double delight at the prestigious African junior tournament as he also bagged the doubles title with Anro Nel.

The South African duo beat Moroccan pair of Yazid Lahjomri and Mohammed Nabihi 6-3 6-2 in the boys’ doubles final to claim the doubles trophy.

“Winning the doubles was also a big thing for me, I didn’t want to let my partner down and I knew I needed the win to confirm my spot in the top 100. The singles win meant everything to me, but the doubles also meant a lot,” added Badenhorst.

The 17-year-old Van Vuuren, who trains at the Riaan Venter Tennis Academy in Potchefstroom, defeated compatriot Leigh van Zyl with a dominant 6-4, 6-1 victory to claim the girls’ title.

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