Several South African rising tennis stars safely progressed into the second round of the SA Spring Open at Ellis Park Tennis Courts in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
There were mixed fortunes for the Kruger sisters, Zoë and Isabella, as Zoë won her match while Isabella bowed out at the first hurdle.
Zoë Kruger defeated Lina Glushko of Israel 6-4, 6-2 to book her spot in Thursday’s second round, where the nineteen-year old faces a tough challenge in French second seed Tessah Andrianjafitrimo.
Her younger sister Isabella went down to last week’s Jozi Open finalist Valeria Bhunu of Zimbabwe 6-1, 6-3.
In the wheelchair tennis event, risings stars Mariska Venter and Nokwanda Hlongwane have safely progressed into the second round.
Venter, a third seed, dismantled compatriot Nonkanyiso Nyosi 6-0, 6-0, and Hlongwane followed suit with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Dipuo Molefe.
Open Results on Tuesday, 22 September, 2021:
4-Richel Hogenkamp (NED) bt Polina Kudermetova (RUS) 6-4, 6-2
Elizabeth Mandlik (USA) bt Mia Fruchtman (ISR) 6-3, 6-3
Valeria Bhunu (ZIM) bt Isabella Kruger (RSA) 6-1, 6-3
Zoë Kruger (RSA) bt Lina Glushko (ISR) 6-4, 6-2
Matiltda Mutavdzic (GBR) bt Heike Janse van Vuuren (RSA) 6-0, 6-1
Shiho Akita (JPN) bt Tina Smith (AUS) 6-1, 6-1
Eva Vedder (NED) bt Stephanie Visscher (NED) 6-0, 6-1
Eva Lys (GER) bt Julita Saner (SWE) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
Wheelchair Tennis First Round Results on Tuesday, 22 September, 2021:
Mabel Mankgele (RSA) bt Asive Gilifile (RSA) 7-6(4), 6-0
3-Mariska Venter (RSA) bt Nonkanyiso Nyosi (RSA) 6-0, 6-0
Nosipho Hlatswayo (RSA) bt Mirgal Masiya (RSA) 6-1, 6-1
Emihle Mbotho (RSA) bt Itumeleng Mathabathe (RSA) 6-2, 6-2
2-Jiske Griffieon (NED) bt Karabo Sesing (RSA) 6-0, 6-0
Nokwanda Hlongwane (RSA) bt Dipuo Molefe (RSA) 6-0, 6-0
Ntsuku Ndlovu (RSA) bt Martha Tsum (RSA) 6-3, 7-5
Photo 1 Caption: South Africa’s Nokwanda Hlongwane progressed to the second round of the Uniqlo Wheelchair Tennis Tour’s SA Spring Open, being played at the Ellis Park Tennis Courts in Johannesburg. Photo: Tennis SA / Picture Café
Photo 2 Caption: Ranked 1241 in the ITF’s Women’s Singles rankings, Zoë Kruger comfortably beat Israel’s Lina Glushko 6-4 6-2 to progress. Photo: Tennis SA / Picture Café
Photo 3 Caption: SA’s No. 3-ranked Mariska Venter on her way to beating compatriot Nonkanyiso Nyosi. 6-0 6-0. Photo: Tennis SA / Picture Café
With editing by gsport