Excellent Results From Provincial Trials Over the past weekend Gauteng East Tennis Association held their Closed championships which doubled as the first stage for trials for 2022 inter provincial team. It was a tournament that if anyone wanted to be considered for the inter provincial team for next year, they had to take part in this event. I think it fair to say that amongst our seven players who we entered, we achieved the best tournament results that the Vosloorus development programme has ever achieved. With one girl winning her doubles event and two pairs ending runners up, this was a height not reached before in tournament play. Add to that Thando Xolo finished third in the under 13 girls singles with Angel Nkosi 5th in the same age group and together they were runners up in the doubles. They combined the under 13 and 14 for the doubles so this was an even greater achievement. Angel in particular showed the benefit of having been selected to attend provincial squad training and it is a joy to see the improvement in her game. Mpumi Hlatswayo finished 4th in the girls under 12 and which again showed an improvement on her previous tournament. In the boys Wandile Tshabalala found that consistency does win matches and achieved his highest finishing position in a tournament after winning three of his matches. Nkosikhona Ubisi at last showed what he is capable of and only lost one match out of the four he played. His last two matches were a joy to watch and to see that again consistency will reap rewards. He also ended up as runner up in the doubles. Bonolo Nthwesane, despite injuring her ankle in a singles match having to withdraw, managed to play the doubles and went on to win the under 14/13 section. “it was an extremely pleasing tournament for the children” said chairman Mike Dunk. “The improvement in some of the players was very gratifying to see especially where three of them now realize that consistency is the key to winning matches.” Most, if not all the kids, should be invited back early next year for further training and trials before selection for the inter provincial teams. We would like to see four of our players selected next year.
