It’s a fast-paced format with no place to hide. Every point matters, and momentum can be difficult to maintain.
Such was the joy or agony of the Ugu Tennis Association Tiebreaker Tee-Off on October 4.
The tournament was held at Uvongo and Douglas Mitchell tennis clubs.
The ladies played at Douglas Mitchell, with the A-section won by Cathy Kirton and Renee Purtell, who overcame the challenge of Zelda Smook and Max Mackay-Coghill in the final.
The B-section was won by Jenny Browne and her daughter Andrea. Runners-up were Sheri Curle and Lizelle Wilkins.
At Uvongo, the men’s section was won by Richard Short and Martyn Nagtegaal, in a thrilling match against Bjorn Wikstrom and Ian Ackerman.
B-section winners were Alan Collocott and his son-in-law Hennie Volschenk, visiting from Rotterdam, over Marcus Lucarne and Bernard Pillay, from Umdoni.
Play was initially delayed due to wet conditions. One match was played before the heavens opened again, albeit gently.
However, it didn’t rain for long and Uvongo stalwart Johan van Niekerk was out there with squeegee and towel, mopping the courts in a manner which suggested that any clouds dare not venture any closer.
He was also seemingly oblivious to the fact that it may actually still have been drizzling, and that all the other players seemed more interested in the wors being braaied.
Fortunately, all worked out and within an hour and half tennis was under way again and all was well, wors rolls demolished in no time as well.
Meanwhile, Johan is looking forward to playing for South Africa in this year’s Masters World Team Champs (Men’s 65) in Manavgat, Turkey, starting on November 8.
The other three players are Ahmed Bhikoo, Richard Laing and Llewellyn Booth.
Then, coming up, Uvongo Tennis Club is set to host the Howard Osborne Masters Tournament on October 31 and November 1.
It will be a team event, with each team consisting of eight players – four men and four women.
Contact Martyn Nagtegaal on 083-600-0765 or Johan van Niekerk on 082-538-4992.
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