Kutlo Motseta
26th August 2024
The International Junior Tennis circuit (IJT) came to end last weekend with Botswana making the finals again courtesy of Naledi Raguin.
The Motswana French based player won the doubles finals with her Zimbabwean Botswana based doubles partner Chelsea Chakanyuka in the initial J30 tournament which was played between 12th to the 17th August 2024. The first seeded duo made it to the finals again, but narrowly lost the J60 tournament to Danielle Chapman and Abegayle Wheeler3-6, 6-1 and (10-8).
Jayden Summers of South Africa won the competitively contested boys singles finals, defeating his countryman Heinrich Grootman 6-4; 6-3. Neither player relented, they went toe-to-toe mainly conceding points through forced errors.
“I think I almost got it but got tired … my opponent played well and took his opportunities I just have to improve”, said the 16-year-old homeschooled career athlete who hails from Mpumalanga.
Summers was content with his game but said there was room for improvement.
“My second serve was not great … but the final was my toughest game in the tournament”.Summers, has been playing tennis for 13 years. “I am trying to turn professional and I am focused improving,” said the Pretoria based player.
In the girls singles finals, Danielle Chapman beat Abigayle Vosloo in another hotly contested final, with the duo playing up to 40 shot rallies. The accurate, consistent and hard-hitting Chapman eventually beat her more mobile and cautious opponent, Vosloo, who did not manage to repeat her success from the first tournament which she won.
Tshepang Tlhankane who is the director of public relations and marketing for Botswana Tennis Association(BTA) said the tournament went well after the successfully hosted Davis Cup which was held in Botswana for the second time. “They went well, I haven’t experienced any challenges.”
On the quality of local tennis, he said that the “the level of tennis is improving and are competing against players from all over the world. Our players are at par with their international counterparts. Some players are reaching the finals some the quarter finals.”
He cited the impressive singles performances of Naledi Raguin, Chakanyuka, Ntungamili Raguin and Mark Nawa as standout performers. The former reached the semis and the latter the quarter finals.
He said tennis is an expensive sport, which makes it a hinderance for players to get involved, thus funding would make it easier for the sport to grow. BTA runs development programs to make the sport more accessible.
The next tournament will be held in October when the international tennis community will descend into the capital again.
