- South African tennis aces Scholtz and Harris through to quarterfinals
Stellenbosch, South Africa – South Africa’s Madrie le Roux is determined to reach the final of the Digicall Futures 3 international tennis tournament being played in Coetzenburg at the University of Stellenbosch.
Sixth-seeded Le Roux secured her place in Friday’s quarter-finals when she overcame a second set scare to beat China’s Huijie Hu 6-1 7-5.
“I started very well, in the first set but had a bad run on the second. I had no time to study my opponents game I just focused on my own. I think my serve was on target and overall was pleased with how I played out there today.” Le Roux said.
Le Roux sees it as a big bonus playing international tennis in South Africa. “It’s so nice being in South Africa playing international competition, and especially playing in Stellenbosch one of the country’s most beautiful and charming areas. The courts are in excellent condition, the tennis has been of good standard and to play in front of home town fans is fabulous. We South African players are grateful to the sponsors, organisers and promoters who initiated and supported this Digicall tournament series in our own backyard.”
Le Roux has her eye on in the final after losing the first week in the semifinals and only managing to get to the quarterfinals last week.
“I have played very good tennis in the past few weeks, but each time I’ve lost badly. This week, I hope that I will get to the final and take the title home.”
In the quarterfinals, Le Roux will have to pull out all the stops when she comes up against tournament favourite Naomi Totka of Hungary, who dominated Yijia Shao of China 6-3 6-3.
Joining Le Roux in the last eight is doubles partner and fellow countrywoman Ilze Hattingh. Hattingh seeded three beat unseeded American Sophia Bursulaya (USA) 4-6 6-4 6-0. Hattingh will now play German fifth seed Luis Marie Huber.
The other women to qualify for the last eight are German Amelie Intert seeded five as well as Nicole Rottmann of Austria, Valeria Bhunu of Zimbabwe, Gabriella Taylor of Britain all unseeded.
In the men’s singles, local hopeful Lloyd Harris won through to the quarter-finals after his opponent David Forchap of Germany had to retire from an arm injury. Harris, the fourth seed, was up a break of serve leading 4-2 in the first set when Forchap threw in the towel.
But seventh seed Keith-Patrick Crowley was unable to join his countryman Harris in Friday’s quarterfinals. Crowley was shocked by Austria’s Peter Goldsteiner who beat Crowley easily 6-1 6-1 in a match that lasted only an hour and eight minutes. Goldsteiner will now go up against Lloyd Harris for a semifinal berth.
Nik Scholtz of South Africa was once again extended to three sets. Scholtz, seeded second struggled past Dekel Bar of Israel 4-6 6-4 6-4. On Friday Scholtz will come up against unseeded Lucas Catarina of Monaco.
Joining Scholtz and Goldstein in the quarterfinals are Austria’s Pascal Brunner and Lucas Miedler seeded one and three respectively, fifth seed Javier Pulgar-Garcia of Germany and eighth seed Luca Pancaldi of Italy.
Friday’s quarterfinal action starts at 10h00.
