Words: Wheelchair Tennis South Africa
9 October 2014, Strand, Cape Town - Leon Els and Mariska Venter clinched a brace of titles at the recently concluded Airports Company South Africa Strand Open tournament.
Courtesy of: Wheelchair Tennis South Africa
Els now has a hattrick of titles with an inspiring win over Marshall Marsh. Meanwhile, Venter got back to winning ways once more to assert her position on the women's world rankings.
After a loss to her nemesis, Thando Hlatswayo, in the girls singles finals, Venter turned the tables on the former to claim the women's title in a closely contested 64 64 encounter.
The Ermelo lass has previously shown her prowess by only conceding a few games against Tsholofelo Sibanda and Nonkanyiso Nyosi in the earlier rounds.
The match got off to an electrifying start with both players trading rallies and seeking to control points. The match was on serve until Venter broke in the ninth game on both sets to shut the door on Hlatswayo's resistance.
The men's finals pitted newly crowned doubles champions against each other in a repeat of last year's semifinals that went Marshall Marsh's way.
Revenge was on the cards as Els sought to clinch his third title on the trot, Marsh though was gallant in fending off any offensive from the former.
It was not to be with Els claiming a podium finish with a clinical 63 64 victory to add the Airports Company South Africa Strand Open title to his trophy cabinet.
Bongani Dlamini was made to sweat by the determined Danny Mohlamonyane in the quads title match. After a slow start which saw Dlamini dropping the opening set, Dlamini staged a comeback of note with an avalanche of attacks in the second set before going for the jugular in the third set. Dlamini floored his opponent 36 62 64 to confirm his status as the man in charge in the absence of Lucas Sithole.
Final Results:
Men's Singles Final
Leon Els bt Marshall Marsh 63 64
Men's Doubles Final
Leon Els/Marshall Marsh bt Frank Ramokoatsi/Patrick Selepe 60 63
Womens Singles Final
Mariska Venter bt Thando Hlatswayo 64 64
Womens Doubles Final
Mariska Venter/Rose van der Meer bt Thando Hlatswayo/Tsholofelo Sibanda 63 36 76 (5)
Quads Singles Final
Bongani Dlamini bt Danny Mohlamonyane 36 62 64
Boys Juniors Final
Sean Liam de Hilster bt Xolelani Nyandeni 63 75
Girls Juniors Final
Thando Hlatswayo bt Mariska Venter 61 75
For more information please contact Siyabulela Nkachela 0826793772 or email or please visit: www.tennis.co.za
