The country’s number-one-ranked tennis team, Hoër Meisieskool Oranje, continued their dominance on the weekend by winning the annual Amanda Coetzer Tennis Tournament in Bloemfontein.
Oranje successfully defended their title with a nail-biting victory in the final over Rhenish Girls’ High School from Stellenbosch. Oranje won it 4-3, with the national champion and the schools top-ranked player, Donna le Roux, clinching the deciding match with a 10-7 tiebreaker win in the third set.
It was a double delight for Oranje as they won the under-19 and under-15 competitions for the first time since 2018. It was, however, the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic that the under-15 tournament was held at the Amanda Coetzer tournament.
Le Roux, who is the daughter of the former Free State and Springbok prop, Ollie le Roux, was also named as the best under-19 player of the tournament, while her Oranje teammate, Nina Schimper, was the runner-up. Morgan Jordaan and Karmen Schilz of Affies received the accolade for the best doubles pair. Jordaan is a long-time doubles partner of Le Roux when they play in national events.
Ameli Bezuidenhout of Oranje was the second best under-15 player at the tournament with Savanah Olivier named as the third best player. Ciaran McConnell of Hoërskool Waterkloof took the honours in this category. McConnell and Isabelle van Wyk were named as the best under-15 doubles pair. – MORGAN PIEK
