Sunday, 04 October 2015, Bloemfontein, South Africa. – Top seed Leon Els produced a masterclass performance on Sunday to reach the Airports Company South Africa Bloem Open quarterfinal round, an International Tennis Federation (ITF) Futures tournament part of the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour staged at Oud Studente Tennis Club in Bloemfontein. He was joined by second seed Nico Langmann of Austria, and Israel’s Amir Levi seeded no.3.
Els who is hunting his first title in the city of roses had a bye in the first round and took on the country’s no.1 quad ace Lucas Sithole in the second round. The 27-year-old saw off Sithole 6-1 6-2 to advance to Monday’s quarterfinal round. Els next plays countryman Patrick Selepe, who beat Ewald Lamprecht 6-1 7-5.
Langmann, who is no stranger to South Africa also advanced to the quarterfinal round after defeating the country’s Vuyisani Mantshula 6-3 6-0 in the second round. The third seed Amir Levi of Israel, spent just less than an hour on court getting past Thato Tsomole 6-0, 6-1 and next plays eighth seed Mzwanele Thientsi.
While the women’s top seed Mariska Venter earned a free trip into the last eight when Malesela Mashita did not show up, Thando Hlatshwayo and Nokwande Hlongwane advanced to the next round in the women’s singles.
Hlatshwayo defeated Judith Mdaka 6-1 6-2 and will face her country lady Lerato Mathonsi, while Nokwande, who knocked out Nosipho Hlatswayo 6-1 6-0, will play Simamkele Zondwayo.
Top seed venter will face unseeded Lethabo Shai in tomorrow’s quarterfinal.
