Potchefstroom, South Africa – There were two first time international title winners when the RVTA PUKKE ITF 1 junior tennis tournament was concluded on Saturday.
South Africa’s Kholo Montsi and Belgium’s Tilwith Di Girolami were crowned the boys and girls singles champions with both winning their respective finals in straight sets.
Montsi of Cape Town, seeded three – beat unseeded American, Murphy Cassone, a qualifier 6-2 7-6(1) in his final.
In hot, dry conditions, Montsi started well – breaking the strong Murphy serve in the first and fifth games and held serve throughout to win the opening set 6-2. In the second set, Murphy lifted his game, and a frustrated Montsi trailing 2-3 punched the fence after a string of unforced errors cutting his hand which resulted in a medical time out. The set went with serve until the tie breaker, which was dominated by Montsi winning it 7-1 which secured him game, set, match, and first major junior title.
“I am very happy to have won. I worked really hard for it and I’m proud of the way I played and conducted my attitude and behaviour throughout the tournament” said Montsi
15-year-old Montsi said that his game plan for the final paid off, “I told myself to hold serve and play freely and tough throughout.”
In Friday’s semi-final, Montsi caused a major upset when he beat fellow South African, second seeded, Pierre Malan impressively 6-1 6-2, “The win over Pierre was big and I told myself that I had to finish off the tournament week with title win after beating Pierre. Pierre is a good friend and training partner and the win over him gave me the added confidence I needed for the final.”
In the girls singles final, Di Girolami outsmarted her South African opponent, Maja Gledic 6-4 6-3 in 1 hour 35 minutes.
It was a dream run for the 14-year-old Belgian from the city of Bree, who had to qualify for the main draw and then grind her way through as the underdog to the final. Di Girolami, part of the Belium Tennis High Performance programme at “Tennis Flanders” did not drop a set all tournament. The Beglian also beat two seeded players in sixth seeded, Angela Georgieva and fifth seeded, Maja Gledic en route to winning the title.
Di Girolami was never troubled by Gledic in the final and moved the ball short and long which clearly frustrated Gledic, a consistent player who relies on outrallying her opponents in normal circumstances, “Maja plays a slow, loopy and very consistent game so I had to move her around and bring her into the net where she isn’t comfortable to have any chance,” admitted Di Girolami.
“I am delighted and feeling great to have won my first international title here in Potchefstroom. I had to qualify which allowed me to get used to the high altitude conditions, and I used the altitude to my advantage – playing aggressively” continued Di Girolami.
The boys doubles title went to second seeded, Kholo Montsi and Robbie Arends both of Cape Town. Montsi and Arends beat unseeded Belgians Alexander Hoogmartens and Noah Martens and 6-4 6-3.
Unseeded French pairing of Margaux Komano and Helena Mohamed won the girls doubles title when they upset third seeded South African’s Megan Lombardi and Linge Steenkamp 7-6 (1) 6-2.
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