African junior champion, Ilze Hattingh, Fed Cup players Madrie le Roux and Natasha Fourouclas and Zanmarie Pienaar are the four wildcards chosen by Tennis SA for the Soweto Open, a WTA- and ITF-sanctioned Challenger event on the international women’s circuit boasting R500 000.00 in prize money, as well as a bagful of international world ranking points.
Tournament organizers, Tennis South Africa carefully selected their four wild cards, which are given at the discretion of the national body.
Tournament Director, Ian Smith who is also the CEO of Tennis South Africa said that it was a priority through the awarding of wild cards to give deserved opportunity to up and coming South African tennis players.
“We have a strict policy at TSA to try and look after our rising stars. Ilze (Hattingh) and Madrie (Le Roux) have proved over the recent years their capabilities and potential on the local and international junior circuits.
“Natasha (Fourouclas) was one of our top junior players and has just come out of injury and we felt it fitting to help Natsha get back into the “groove”, so to speak, by awarding her the wildcard.
“Zanmarie Pienaar from Gauteng East was a top junior player and represented South Africa at the Zone 6 Games in December, where she won gold for South Africa,” continued Smith. “Her current senior ranking warranted her the wild-card.”
Hattingh (83) and Le Roux (93) are both ranked in the top 100 of world junior tennis. Fourouclas was ranked as high as 474 in the world on the senior ranking, before developing a hip injury that side-lined her for six months.
The qualifying for the Soweto open will be played this weekend, Saturday 4 May and Sunday 5 May, 2013 The qualifying is open for all tennis players over the age of 14 years to sign in. Priority will be given to internationally and nationally ranked players. Four qualifiers will earn a main draw spot.
The main draw of the Soweto Open starts Monday 6 May, at the Arthur Ashe Tennis Complex, with the finals scheduled for Saturday 11 May. Play starts at 10h00 each day and entry to the public is free. For directions to the stadium go to www.satennis.co.za
(With editing by gsport)
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