Stellenbosch, South Africa – All five seeded South Africans are through to the second round of the Digicall Futures 3 being played in Stellenbosch.
The tournament is the third and last of the Digicall Futures series hosted at the University courts in Coetzenburg.
Second seed South African Nik Scholtz needed more than three hours to beat Sebastian Prechtel of Germany 7-5 4-6 7-6 (7). Scholtz a local Boland favorite, gave the home town fans some anxious moments.
After winning the opening set, Scholtz was broken early in the second set by the feisty German who held on to level matters.
In a nerve wrecking third set the unseeded German, squandered several chances but the 24 year old South African remained consistent forcing the set to a tie breaker which Scholtz won and earned his spot in Thursdays second round.
Meanwhile fourth seeded South African Lloyd Harris had a much easier path to round two when he beat compatriot John Myburgh 6-2 6-4
Seventh seeded Keith-Patrick Crowley a Capetonian, like Harris made easy work of qualifier James Clow also of South Africa winning 6-2 6-1.
In the women’s singles sixth seeded Madri le Roux lost only two games in her all South Africa encounter against Louise Mare Botes winning 6-2 6-0.
Le Roux joined in the second round her third seeded doubles partner Ilze Hattingh of Pretoria who played her first round on Wednesday.
In the biggest upset of the day Digicall Futures 1 singles winner Lesedi Jacobs of Namibia was surprised by Austrian Nicole Rottmann.
Rottmann beat Jacobs 6-2 6-4 and will now play fourth seeded Katharina Hering of Germany in round two on Thursday.