Johannesburg, South Africa – In her first comeback tournament since her “premature” retirement from competitive tennis, top seed Madrie Le Roux won the R100 000 Wilson Challenge at the German Country Club north of Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Le Roux, from North Western Province beat second seed Nicole Dzenga of Gauteng East 6-3 6-4 to clinch the title. Le Roux was never troubled in her straight set victory despite trailing Dzenga 0-2 in the second set.
The former Fed Cup player and African Junior Champion last reached a tournament final at the Sun City Futures in winter last year but during that final suffered from Epstein-Barr virus which side-lined Le Roux from the game from July to October last year. It all became too much for Le Roux who announced her retirement from the game in November and she went into a coaching role at the Riaan venter Tennis Academy in Potchefstroom.
But Le Roux’s hunger to get back on court and play tournaments was so great that in March of this year, Le Roux decided to start playing competitively and started to work on her game.
“I am really feeling good about my win. I played well and I feel a more matured and calm player since I decided to return to competitive tennis” said Le Roux. “Winning the first tournament you play on after a long layoff gives me confidence and hope that I made the right decision. I’m understanding my game much better” said Le Roux.
The men’s singles went to in-form Benjamin Van Rensburg of Gauteng Central. Second seed Janse Van Rensburg caused a minor upset when he beat tournament favourite Brandon Laubser of Gauteng East 6-2 7-5. Janse Van Rensburg, who impressively won the Marks Park Open event last week losing only six games throughout the tournament said he felt good about his win.
“I’m on a good, confident roll winning two titles back to back. Going into the final today I was feeling solid having lost only two games en route to the final.”
Janse van Rensburg pushed Laubser hard throughout the match and capitalized on the loose play by Laubser and high percentage of unforced errors. “I am fit and have the experience advantage over Brandon and knew that with Brandon I may have to spend a lot of time out of court as he plays a solid game from the back court. I decided to play patiently and wait for Brandon to make the errors which worked especially in the first set.”
In the second set Janse Van Rensburg raced to a 5-2 lead and had two championship points. But Laubser, South Africa’s second highest world ranked junior, was not going to give up the fight that easy. Laubser fought back to level at 5-5 saving a third championship point against him. However Janse Van Rensburg regrouped and broke serve in the eleventh game then served for the match and title.
Janse Van Rensburg has Laubser’s number having won all three of their encounters now.
The boys singles was won by Owen Kohler of Kwa-Zulu Natal. Kohler the fourth seed upset the third seed Victor Putter of Gauteng North 6-4 6-3 in the final.
The girls singles title went to top seed Cara O’Flaherty of Gauteng Central. In the final O’Flaherty beat second seed Chelsea Dzenga of Gauteng North 6-1 6-1.