Tennis
Junior Nationals gets underway in Bloemfontein─── MORGAN PIEK 15:54 Wed, 02 Apr 2025
The 2025 Junior National Tennis Championship got underway in Bloemfontein on Wednesday, with over 500 players competing in this prestigious event.
The tournament was officially launched at Oranje Meisieskool on Wednesday morning with its first-ever opening ceremony.
Bloemfontein has hosted this championship for over 20 years, and the 2025 edition promises to be bigger and better than ever. Boys and girls from across the country are competing in four age groups at six different venues across the city, all vying for national honours.
Ernst Gouws. Photo: Morgan Piek
The General Manager of Tennis South Africa, Anthony Moruthane, told OFM Sport that it’s important to continue growing the tournament and making it an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
“We have been coming to Bloemfontein for over two decades, hosting the Junior Nationals right here,” said Moruthane.
“This is a very important event for us—crucial for our player pathway and competitive opportunities for our local players at different levels, from Under-12 to Under-18.
“It’s very exciting to be back in Bloemfontein, and what makes it even more special is having American Express as the title sponsor. They are enhancing the tournament experience, ensuring that players not only have top-class competition on the court but also extraordinary experiences off the court.
“We’re hosting an official opening ceremony for the very first time, which signals our commitment to growing this flagship junior event into something even bigger. We want to provide great experiences for our local players, their parents who have travelled to Bloemfontein, and the coaches over these seven days.”
Meanwhile, the first results were already available by Wednesday afternoon.
Celina Joseph. Photo: Morgan Piek
In the Boys’ Under-18 tournament, top seed Reuben de Klerk progressed to the second round on a bye and will face Reuben Lerm, who defeated Melokuhle Moroka 6-0, 6-0.
Second seed Connor Doig and third seed Willem de Waal also advanced to the second round with byes. De Waal will take on Nicolai Paraian in his next match, while Doig will face the winner of the clash between Angus Fyvie and Hanno Bouwer.
In the Girls’ Under-18 singles, top seed Jessica Schilz will meet Megan Fourie on Thursday, second seed Korona Rugara will play Olivia Clark, and third seed Milla Kotze will take on Avida Caby.
