JOHANNESBURG, September 22, 2021 (Tennis South Africa Press Release)
Several South African rising tennis stars safely progressed into the second round of the SA Spring Open at Ellis Park Tennis Courts in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
There were mixed fortunes for the Kruger sisters, Zoe and Isabella, as Zoe won her match, while Isabella bowed out at the first hurdle.
Zoe Kruger defeated Lina Glushko of Israel 6-4, 6-2 to book her spot in Thursday’s second round and next faces a tough challenge in French second seed Tessah Andrianjafitrimo.
Isabella went down to last week’s Jozi Open finalist Valeria Bhunu of Zimbabwe 6-1, 6-3.
In the men’s event, Vaughn Hunter knocked out compatriot Pierre Malan in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 to move into the second round where he faces Japanese fifth-seed Rio Noguchi.
Defending champion Benjamin Lock had no issues advancing into the second round by dispatching Sahar Simon of Israel 6-4, 6-3. The Zimbabwean next faces Canadian Kelsey Stevenson.
In the wheelchair tennis event, risings stars Mariska Venter, Nokwanda Hlongwane, Brilliant Mabaso and Mpho Mhlongo have all safely progressed into the second round.
Venter, a third seed, dismantled compatriot Nonkanyiso Nyosi 6-0, 6-0, Hlongwane followed suit with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Dipuo Molefe. Mabaso battled past Nicolaas Otto 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to advance, while Mhlongo eased past Siyabulela Mahlikihla to set up a clash with top seed Martin de la Puente of Spain.
Results Singles
Second Round Men
2-Benjamin Lok (ZIM) bt Sahar Simon (ISR) 6-4, 6-3
4-Michail Pervolarakis (GRE) bt Connor van Schalwyk (NAM) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
Jeremy Beale (AUS) bt Devin Badenhorst (RSA) 6-3, 6-4
Alastair Gray (GBR) bt Julian Cash (GBR) 6-3, 6-1
Markos Kalovelonis (GRE) bt 7-Makoto Ochi (JPN) 6-4, 6-4
Daniel Cukierman (ISR) bt Neil Oberleitner (AUT) 6-2, 6-3
Vaughn Hunter (RSA) bt Pierre Malan (RSA) 6-2, 6-1
Kyle Seelig (USA) bt Peter Goldsteiner (AUT) 6-0, 2-6, 6-2
Menelaos Efstathiou (CYP) bt Leonld Sheyngezikhi (BUL) 6-1, 6-1
Women
4-Richel Hogenkamp (NED) bt Polina Kudermetova (RUS) 6-4, 6-2
Elizabeth Mandlik (USA) bt Mia Fruchtman (ISR) 6-3, 6-3
Valeria Bhunu (ZIM) bt Isabella Kruger (RSA) 6-1, 6-3
Zoe Kruger (RSA) bt Lina Glushko (ISR) 6-4, 6-2
Matiltda Mutavdzic (GBR) bt Heike Janse van Vuuren (RSA) 6-0, 6-1
Shiho Akita (JPN) bt Tina Smith (AUS) 6-1, 6-1
Eva Vedder (NED) bt Stephanie Visscher (NED) 6-0, 6-1
Eva Lys (GER) bt Julita Saner (SWE) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
