Stellenbosch, South Africa; Lloyd Harris will have to battle good friend and fellow South African Nik Scholtz for the title as winner of the Digicall Futures 3 tennis tournament.
Harris won the first two in the series of three international tournaments played in Stellenbosch.
The second seeded Harris battled for 2 hours and 13 minutes to book his place in a sixth consecutive Futures final. The 19-year-old Harris beat third seed Alessandro Bega 7-6, 7-5. It was Bega’s best match of all three tournaments. Once again the big difference was that Harris held his nerve on the big points and wasn’t afraid to go big on his serves.
At one stage Harris served four unreturnable serves in one game. Bega through his hands in the air and screamed: “How can he be beaten!”
Harris said afterwards: “He played so much better than in the previous two matches we had. While he lifted his game, my energy levels were somewhat down. It was tough out there, but thankfully my service game was solid.”
This is Harris’ sixth tournament in seven weeks.
He will now face Scholtz, who played an impressive match against the top seed Jordi Samper-Montana. Scholtz won 6-2, 6-4.
According to Harris he will change nothing in his approach to the final. “It is like any other match. My focus and intensity will be right up there like it should be.”
Top seed Chanel Simmonds from South Africa reached the final for a third time after a fierce battle against American Lauren Embree lasting more than 2 hours. Simmonds beat the fifth seed 3-6, 6-3 and 6-4.
Germany’s Julyette Maria Josephine Steur dashed hopes of an all South African women’s final when she battled past Madrie le Roux to win in three sets 6-4, 2-6 and 6-3. Steur advanced to the final for the first time in the series after 2 hours and 27 minutes against the fighting Le Roux.