Johannesburg, South Africa – The South Africa’s girls under 12 junior tennis team qualified for the year end African Junior Championships when they upset more favoured countries during the Southern African Junior Championships played in Antananarivo, Madagascar this past week. More impressively was that it was the first time the team have competed on clay.
The girls team comprised of Kaitlyn Rumduth of Durban, Nadia Gouws and Carle Botha both of Pretoria
After clinching the title against top seeds, Madagascar 2-1, the South Africans qualified to compete in the continents final event in the first week of September in Morocco
Team coach Terrey Schweitzer was thrilled by the overall performance. “Our girls worked extremely hard on our first practice day to get used to playing and moving around on clay for the first time and adapted well all week to playing on the surface.”
Carle Botha opened for South Africa winning singles in a strenuous 7-6(11) 2-6 7-5 against Maholy Razakaniaina of Madagascar. Nadia Gouws then won her singles 6-7 (2) 6-4 6-1 against Miotisoa Rasendra of Madagascar. Unfortunately Kaitlyn Rumduth and Carle Botha then lost the dead doubles match 0-6 4-6 to Madagascar’s pair Maholy Razakaniaina and Randy Rakotoarilala.
The South Africa’s boys under 12 failed to qualify for the year end African Junior Championships after coming out fourth in the overall performance
Southern African Junior Teams Championships Final standings;
Boys
1. Madagascar
2. Zimbabwe
3. Botswana
4. South Africa
5. Mauritius
Girls
1. South Africa
2. Madagascar
3. Zimbabwe
4. Botswana