POLOKWANE – The Polokwane Tennis Club hosted the Limpopo Baobab Mini 4 Tournament this weekend, organised by SRE Tennis as part of the Tennis South Africa (TSA) Mini Tournament series.

Close to 60 players, including juniors from Limpopo and visitors from Gauteng and other provinces, competed over two days.

The event offered players a chance to test themselves in competitive match conditions while also earning points toward their national rankings.

Tournament director Ernest Faver said the weekend showed encouraging signs for especially junior tennis in the province. “The matches were closely contested, and the standard of play was impressive across the age groups,” he said.

Faver thanked the players, parents and coaches who supported the tournament, as well as the Polokwane Municipality for providing the venue.

“Hosting events like this benefits both the players and the community,” he added.

Among the standout performances was local player Liah Rodriguez who outplayed Gabriella Steytler (Gauteng) by 6-2 and 6-3 and Miani Vosloo who defeated Zelné Lepart (Lim) by 6-3, 6-1.

Clarise Coetzer, also from Polokwane, triumphed over fellow Limpopo player Wilna Strydom by 6-3 and 6-4 in the girls u/12 section.

In the men’s singles, Christiaan Pretorius beat Blake Bekker by 6-1, 2-6 and 10-7.

In the boys u/14 division, local player Regard Conradie unfortunately lost to Cody Davidoff (Winelands) by 6-1 and 6-4 and in the girls u/14 division, local player Mika Better outplayed her Gauteng counterpart, Savannah Stroebel by 6-1, 6-0.

The boys u/12 division saw local player NJ Pretorius outplay another local player, Ruben Kruger by 6-1, 7-6 (7).

A Rainbow Kidz event also ran alongside the tournament, giving younger beginners the chance to play in a simplified, enjoyable format designed to introduce them to the game.

More results from the Limpopo Baobab Mini 4 can be viewed at www.sportyhq.com.