TSHWANE, August 13, 2022 (Tennis SA Press Release)

After putting up another fight in front of his home crowd, South African favourite Devin Badenhorst stumbled at the final hurdle on Saturday, as he was edged out by French player Antoine Ghibaudo in the boys’ singles final at the Samaai Junior Open in Pretoria.

Ghibaudo, the No 8 seed, overcame some real pressure in the opening set to earn a 7-6(5), 6-2 victory, adding the singles title to the doubles crown he had secured the day before with compatriot Paul Barbier Gazeu.

“It means a lot for me to win this tournament because in the ITF (International Tennis Federation) it’s one of the biggest tournaments, so I’m proud to have won,” Ghibaudo said.

“I’m also very happy to take revenge on Devin because he beat me two weeks ago. This was another close match but I think I managed it better than him this time.”

Earlier on the final day of the ITF Grade A tournament, in the girls’ singles final, top seed Sofia Costoulas of Belgium defeated unseeded Turkish player Melisa Ercan 7-5, 6-2.

Costoulas was delighted with the result as she continued to prove her potential as a future global star.

“This is my second Grade A title, and my first in South Africa, so I’m really happy to win today. It was a very good week for me,” Costoulas said.

Results

Singles – Finals

Boys

8-Antoine Ghibaudo (FRA) bt 3-Devin Badenhorst (RSA) 7-6(5), 6-2

Girls

1-Sofia Costoulas (BEL) bt Melisa Ercan (TUR) 7-5, 6-2