• Sport

Swakopmund Tennis Open serves up action

• 5 Hours Ago

The 2024 Swakopmund Junior and Senior Open Tennis Tournament delivered thrilling matches and showcased remarkable talent from both local and international players. The tournament, held at the Swakopmund Tennisplatze, began on Tuesday, 17 December, with the juniors, and concluded with the senior finals on Sunday.

The Junior Tennis Open featured participants in age groups ranging from under 10 to under 25.

While Namibian players demonstrated commendable improvement, South African entrants left a strong impression. Daniël De Villiers, competing in the under-10 boys’ category, claimed victory with an impressive performance, defeating Namibia’s top seed with ease. In the under-14 boys’ division, local favourite Emery Maboh secured first place, followed by Emilson Ngola in second.

The under-14 girls’ final saw South African Phillipa Knoesen dominate with a commanding 6-0, 6-0 win over Namibia’s Victoria Jansen.

Tournament director Larushka Kruger praised the junior players for their progress, particularly in doubles, which has been a key focus for development. “We’ve been emphasising doubles to enhance net play, and it’s making a real difference,” Kruger said.

Looking ahead, organisers plan to expand the tournament’s reach by inviting participants from various countries.

“Next year, we aim to advertise the event earlier and in more countries like Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa and Botswana. Our goal is to bring in diverse players and expose our locals to varied playing styles,” Kruger said.

Competitive spirit

The senior tournament, which began on 19 December, featured 40 participants, which included 35 men and five women. The competition saw seasoned players and new faces, with standout performances from top-ranked players. Among the women, veteran Sadie Jacobs and rising star Marie-France Cogwick put up an impressive performance, while in the men’s division, Kendall Swartz faced stiff competition.

Kruger expressed enthusiasm about the strong turnout for the senior division and the competitive spirit on display. The finals, which took place on Sunday, drew significant attention from tennis enthusiasts and spectators.

The Namibia Tennis Association (NTA) extended gratitude to sponsors Michau Basson of Professional Private Wealth Management and Caricia Basson of Caricia Basson Legal Practitioners for their contributions, which were instrumental in making the tournament a success.



Log standings for junior tennis:



U/10 Boys

Standings Points Wins Losses Sets Games

1. Daniël De Villiers 420 2 – 0 (100%) 16 - 2 (88.89%)

2. Marcel Diehl 211 1 - 1 (50%) 8 - 14 (36.36%)

3. Joshua Cowley 002 0 - 2 (0%) 8 - 16 (33.33%)



U/14 Boys

1. Emery Maboh 630 6 - 0 (100%) 36 – 7 (83.72%)

2. Emilson Ngola 421 4 - 2 (66.67%) 28 - 17 (62.22%)

3. Zephan Van der Westhuizen 12 2 - 4 (33.33%) 20 - 24 (45.45%)

4. Emilio Maboh 003 0 - 6 (0%) 0 - 36 (0%)



U/14 Girls

1. Milan de Lange 420 4 - 0 (100%) 24 - 6 (80%)

2. Amelie Odendaal 211 2 - 2 (50%) 17 - 15 (53.13%)

3. Maria Amadhila 002 0 - 4 (0%) 4 - 24 (14.29%)



1. Phillipa Knoesen 420 4 - 0 (100%) 24 – 0 (100%)

2. Victoria Jansen 211 2 - 2 (50%) 12 - 13 (48%)

3. Alicia Hausiku 002 0 - 4 (0%) 1 - 24 (4%)



U/25 Men

1. Ruan Calitz 630 6 - 0 (100%) 36 - 12 (75%)

2. Willem-Pierre Esterhuyse 421 4 - 2 (66.67%) 28 - 12 (70%)

3. Dian Calitz 212 2 - 4 (33.33%) 20 - 24 (45.45%)

4. Loots Wasserfall 003 0 - 6 (0%) 0 - 36 (0%)





Log Standing for senior tennis:



Women Singles:



1. Sadie Jacobs 840 8 - 1 (88.89%) 54 - 11 (83.08%)

2. Mari Van Schalkwyk 631 7 - 2 (77.78%) 45 - 25 (64.29%)

3. Caroline Adriano 212 2 - 4 (33.33%) 14 - 24 (36.84%)

4. Taimi Nashiku 213 2 - 6 (25%) 12 - 41 (22.64%)

5. Megan Lombardt 003 0 - 6 (0%) 12 - 36 (25%)