 Photographer: Hassan El Khawa
Date: 22 Apr 2009 |  Photographer: Hassan El Khawa
Date: 22 Apr 2009 |  Photographer: Hassan El Khawa
Date: 22 Apr 2009 |  Photographer: Hassan El Khawa
Date: 22 Apr 2009 |  Photographer: Hassan El Khawa
Date: 22 Apr 2009 |  Photographer: Hassan El Khawa
Date: 22 Apr 2009 |
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| 22 Apr 2009 - Casablanca, Morocco - Dermot Sweeney | |
| Team success for South Africa at African Junior Championships |
South Africa won the overall team trophy at the 32nd African Junior Championships, which took place at the COC Club in Casablanca last week. The nation won two of the six singles titles on offer, with Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco also appearing on the winners’ rostrum.
South Africa’s success was headed by Chanel Simmonds, who dropped only six games en route the girls’ 18 & under title, defeating Tunisia’s Anais Deville 60 61 in the final. The top seed said: “This means so much to me and it proves that I am the best junior in Africa.”
There was a surprise in the boys’ 18 & under final, where home player Hicham Khaddari upset Egyptian title favourite Karim Maamoun 60 63. The unseeded Moroccan, who dropped only 19 games in his five matches, said: “I’m so happy because I practiced for one year especially for this moment. I will now go out with confidence and try to do well in senior events.”
The two 16 & under titles were won by players following up success in last year’s 14 & under events. In the boys’ singles, Egypt’s Karim Hossam won his second title in two weeks with a convincing 63 64 final victory over Hernus Pieters (RSA). He said: “My concentration had been an issue in my last two matches so my main goal was to stay 100 per cent focused and do the job.”
Ons Jabeur of Tunisia lifted the girls’ title with a convincing 60 75 win over teammate Nour Abbes, saying, “This is amazing for me, especially as it’s my first year in the under 16s.”
South African Wayne Montgomery, whose parents are both tennis coaches, confirmed his dominance of the 14 & under singles with a 60 64 final win over Soufiane Mouline (MAR). He said afterwards: “It’s a really big thing for me and it will really boost my confidence. I now want to go to Europe and test my skills against the best under-14 players in the world.”
Marina Albert of Egypt lifted the 14 & under girls’ title when she beat compatriot Mayar Sherief 76 62. A delighted Albert said: “I’m so happy and I have dreamt about this since Karim Hossam won the boys’ event last year. We train together at the same club so he inspired me to do it.”
The team trophy was awarded to the nation who accumulated the highest number of points based on the best four singles results and four best individual doubles results of each team. South Africa finished in first place, ahead of Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco. South Africa also won the boys’ team trophy, while Tunisia won the girls’ team trophy.
Mohamed M’Jid, President of the Moroccan Tennis Federation, congratulated all the players for their high standard of tennis and thanked the organising committee, all the staff behind the scenes, ITF and CAT.
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