The 2024 Swakopmund Junior Tennis Open kicked off on Tuesday, the 17th of December, at the Swakopmund Tennisplatze, with the semi finals and finals wrapping up on the 18th.
About 20 players from Namibia and abroad competed in the u10, u12, u14 and u16 age group categories, while there was also a senior u25 category.
The boys u10 category had a big upset when the unseeded South African, Daniël de Villiers, took first place with ease after beating the top seed from Namibia, Marcel Diehl 8-0 in the final.
In the u14 boys category, Emery Maboh of Namibia was also a comfortable winner, beating compatriot Emilson Ngola 6-2, 6-2 in the final, while Zephan van der Westhuizen came third.
There was an upset in the girls u14 category as the top seeded Amelie Odendaal lost 6-0, 6-0 to the unseeded South African Phillipa Knoesen, who went on to beat Victoria Jansen 6-0, 6-0 in the final.
Milan de Lange came third after beating Odendaal 6-2, 6-3.
In the u25 men’s category, Ruan Calitz of Namibia beat compatriot Willem-Pierre Esterhuysen 6-4, 6-0, while Dian Calitz came third.
The Namibia Tennis Association extended its gratitude to the sponsors, Michau Basson from Professional Private Wealth Management and Caricia Basson from Caricia Basson Legal Practitioners for making the event possible and thanked all the players and spectators for their support.
Meanwhile, the Swakopmund Senior Open kicked off with a bang on Thursday, with a tough three-setter between Sedi Jacobs and Namibia’s top ranked u25 player, Mari van Schalkwyk. The 27-year-old Jacobs beat the 15-year-old Van Schalkwyk 6-1, 6-7, 6-1 in a gruelling two-and-a-half hour three setter.
In the men’s competition the top seeded Kendall Swartz of Namibia beat Borja Romero of Spain 7-5, 6-4 to book his spot in the quarterfinals.
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