International wheelchair tennis hosted in Polokwane

International wheelchair tennis returned to the City of Stars with a bang last week when the International Tennis Federation (ITF) hosted a Futures Wheelchair Tennis Tournament sponsored by Airports Company South Africa at the municipal tennis courts.
The tournament allowed local players the opportunity of acquiring all important world ranking points by competing against players from Kenya, France and Switzerland.
Wheelchair Tennis South Africa’s National Public Relations Manager, Anthony Moruthane said it was the third tournament of the year and featured singles and doubles matches between more than 20 international players. South African players kept the palm at home in the absence of Limpopo stars, world number nine women’s player Kgothatso Montjane and men’s world number sixteen Evans Maripa.
The results of the semi-finals on Monday indicated South African players need not stand back for any opponent.
At the time of going to print the finals were being played.
Semi-final results
Singles
Men
Leon Els beats Alwande Skhosana 6-1, 6-0
Marshall Marsh beats Mzwanele Thentsi 6-0, 6-4
Women
Thando Hlatshwayo beats Mabel Mankgele 5-7, 6-3, 7-5
Nalani Buob (Switzerland) beats Mariska Venter 7-6(5), 6-2
Quads
Bongani Dlamini beats Queen Nhlapo 6-2, 6-0
Danny Mohlamonyane beats Ronewa Mudzanani 7-5, 6-1
Boys
Alwande Skhosana beats Mgambi Aviwe 6-0, 6-0
Ian Snyman beats Tiisetso Motaung 6-3, 6-3
Girls
Nalani Buob beats Nsuku Ndlovu 6-0, 6-0
Nosipho Hlatswayo beats Simamkele Zondwayo 6-4, 5-7, 6-3
Doubles
Men
Marshall Marsh/Alwande Skhosana beat Mzwanele Thentsi/Ishmael Tshipuke 6-3, 6-1
Leon Els/Thato Tsomole beat Gift Lekhanyane/Donald Ramphadi 6-4, 6-2
Women
Mariska Venter/Nalani Buob beat Siphokazi Fuma/Nyosi Nonkanyiso 6-0, 6-0
Thando Hlatswayo/Mabel Mankgele beat Lethabo Shai/Tsholofelo Sibanda 6-1, 6-2

Story & Photo: RC Myburgh
>>rc.observer@gmail.com

Featured Photo: Mariska Venter, currently ranked 33rd in the world, in action during her semi-final match against Switzerland’s Nalani Buob, ranked 70th. Buob won the match in clean sets.