Isabella Kruger makes big breakthrough at Junior Wimbledon
Isabella Kruger, daughter of a former Bulls and Springbok legend, has just reached the quarterfinals of the Junior Wimbledon tennis tournament and she is currently playing such brilliant tennis that experts believe she has a good chance of winning the event.
Isabella (Bella) Kruger, youngest daughter of former Blue Bulls captain and Springbok legend, the late Ruben Kruger, is causing a stir at Junior Wimbledon.
The 17-year-old Kruger, who initially had to qualify to enter the main draw of Junior Wimbledon, had just qualified for the quarter-finals, after defeating Mingge Xu of Britain in straight sets by 6-4, 6-3.
Kruger has not entered many junior tournaments so far in her career. However, she has been playing with her older sister, Zoe, in senior ITF tournaments since 2019 when she was 14 years old.
The two sisters, both former pupils of Curro Hazeldean in the East of Pretoria, are currently involved with the Anthony Harris Tennis Academy in Cape Town.
Thanks to brilliant performances so far this year, the young Kruger’s place in the Women’s Tennis Association’s (WTA) senior rankings rose to number 456 last month, which also makes her South Africa’s top-ranked woman’s player.
She even overtook her older sister, (currently number 473 on the WTA rankings). Zoe is currently struggling with an injury and has participated in few tournaments this year.
Due to Kruger’s position on the WTA senior rankings, she was able to enter the qualifying rounds at Junior Wimbledon. After two victories in this qualifying phase, she was able to start her attempt on winning the most coveted junior title in tennis.
Her first victim in the main draw of Junior Wimbledon was the American, Sonya Macavei, whom she defeated 7-5; 5-7; in the first round. Then followed the fourth seeded Nikola Daubnerova from Slovakia and Kruger managed to beat her 6-4; 7-6; 6-2.
After her victory against Mu on Wednesday afternoon, Kruger now finds herself only three victories away from a possible historic junior Grand Slam title.
Her opponent in the quarterfinals is the world number 16 junior, Victoria Mboko form Canada.
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