Rod Laver Junior Challenge, Benoni IC SA AND ETHIOPIA FIRST DAY WINNERS It was a good start by the hosts, IC SA and visitors and first time entrants, Ethiopia on the first day of the IC Rod Laver Junior challenge qualifying event in Benoni. The hosts had little difficulty in brushing aside Botswana as expected. Botswana came in as very late substitutes for Zimbabwe who unfortunately could not field a team. In the past they have always been a competitive force. IC SA lost a mere handful of games as the match turned out to be merely a gentle warm up for stiffer challenges ahead. Ethiopia quickly adapted to the high altitude conditions where the ball flies through the air quicker and bounces higher off the hard court. Playing the TSA Development team they proved their greater experience in tournament play by being able to capitalize on their chances whilst the young Development players would have learnt that control of shot on important points is a pre requisite in closing out games and sets. The Development teams Mpho Masambuka gained their only point when he recovered from the loss of the first set without gleaning a game, to come back and win the second 63 and the Pro tie break 10 4. He showed tremendous character in recovering from the early loss. The Development boys should have taken at least a set in their doubles but a spate of double faults when leading 65 and 40-15, cost them their serve and ultimately the match. But there were some plucky performances from these young development players who are products of Tennis SA Growthpoint development programme. Full results from day 1. IC SA beat Botswana 6 matches to 0. BOYS SINGLES Carl Roothman beat Seabo Shakshando 60 60 Mikaeel Woodman beat Arnold Bleskirk 60 61 GIRLS SINGLES Christine Kruger beat Lily Poely 60 61 Naledi Manyubi beat Atlang Chongwe 60 60 BOYS DOUBLES IC SA beat Botswana 60 60 GIRLS DOUBLES IC SA BEAT BOTSWANA 61 60 Ethiopia beat TSA Development Team 5 matches to 1. BOYS SINGLES Ohssa Gemeda beat Thato Chiloane 64 61 Yosph Gezhose lost to Mpho Masombuka 60 36 4 10 GIRLS SINGLES Mekdes Adone beat Alicia Makoala 64 64 Sara Kashune beat Chwayita Mogale 63 62 BOYS DOUBLES Ethiopia beat TSA Development 64 75 GIRLS DOUBLES Ethiopia beat TSA Development 61 60. IC SA AND ETHIOPIA SET FOR FINAL DAY SHOW DOWN. After both IC SA and Ethiopia comfortably won their second day matches, they will meet in tomorrows final with both teams unbeaten after two matches. IC SA proved far too strong for the TSA Development team where only one match showed any real resistance from the Development team. In the battle between the two top girls IC SA’s Christine Kruger suffered a loss of confidence in the second set but with the pro set tie break left to decide the winner, Christine regained her composure and found her range to drop just a single point in the tie break to run out a 62 36 10 1 winner. In the other matches the Development team was never really in contention with the hosts conceding just six games over the five matches. It has been a steep learning curve for the Development players but the more they are exposed to this level of tennis, the quicker they will learn to adapt to more competitive tournament play. It was a similar situation when Ethiopia came up against Botswana with just one match providing some excitement and a closely fought encounter. Their second boy Yosph Gezhafe showed tremendous fighting qualities to recover from the loss of the first set 16 to come out on top in a closely fought second set which was only secured 74 in the resultant tie break, and then held his nerve to take the deciding tie break 10 7. In the other five matches, Ethiopia dropped just nine games. So a fitting end to the event with the two strongest teams going toe to toe to decide the winner. Ethiopia will be hoping to burst the IC SA teams bubble which has proved too solid in all previous qualifying events for the right to represent the continent at the world wide finals. A Development clinic was held during the day with children from the four local Townships taking part in both the red ball training and full court training. Ages ranged from 7 to 13 and the coaching was enhanced with the participation of the coaches of both the IC SA and TSA Development team taking a part as well some of the players, Full results of the days play are; Ethiopia beat Botswana by 6 matches to nil. BOYS SINGLES O. Gemeda beat Seabo Shakshando 64 61 Y Gezhafe beat A Bleskirk 16 76 (4) 10 7. GIRLS SINGLES M Adone beat L Poely 62 61 S Kasaune beat A Chongwe 60 60 BOYS DOUBLES Ethiopia beat Botswana 60 61 GIRLS SINGLES Ethiopia beat Botswana 60 60. IC SA beat TSA Development by 6 matches to nil BOYS SINGLES C Roothman beat T Chiloane 62 61 M Woodman beat M Masombuka 60 61 GIRLS SINGLES C Kruger beat A Makoala 62 36 10 1 N Manybi beat C Mogale 60 60 BOYS DOUBLES IC SA beat TSA Development 60 61 GIRLS DOUBLES IC SA beat TSA Development 60 61. IC SA QUALIFY FOR THE ROD LAVER JUNIOR CHALLENGE FINAL The IC SA team continued their stranglehold on the African qualifying event to remain unbeaten since their first participation. This was possibly the easiest victory of them all as in the final they beat Ethiopia by six matches to nil and never lost more than three games in a set throughout the morning. It was a surprise as Ethiopia had dominated their previous two matches and like the IC SA team, had won them both comfortably. However, on the day the hosts proved far too strong for the first time visitors to the event. Although there was some very good tennis played, it mainly came from the home side and any hint of resurgence by Ethiopia was quickly snuffed out. Both SA boys dropped just three games in their singles matches whilst the girls were even more miserly, dropping four between them. The doubles saw Ethiopia gain more games but were never in a position to threaten the dominance of the home side. Unfortunately Botswana had transport difficulties with their last bus leaving at lunch time so with their match against the TSA Development team evenly poised at two all after the singles, there was insufficient time to complete the doubles so they were forced to concede the match. Ethiopia’s Sara Kasune was voted by the coaches to be the recipient of the Fair Play award in view of the manner in which she conducted herself throughout the event. It was fitting that the more experienced IC SA team were victorious and they will now represent the African continent at the finals in 2020 in California. RESULT OF THE FINAL TIE IC SA BEAT ETHIOPIA BY 6 MATCHES TO NIL BOYS SINGLES C Roothman beat O Guemeda 61 62 M Woodman beat Y Gezhose 60 63 GIRLS SINGLES C Kruger beat M Adane 61 63 N Manyubi beat S Kashune 60 60 BOYS DOUBLES IC SA Beat Ethiopia 63 62 GIRLS DOUBLES IC SA beat Ethiopia 63 61.
