Monday, 05 October 2015, Bloemfontein, South Africa. – Top seeds Leon Els and Mariska Venter blazed through their quarterfinal-round opponents on the second day of the Airports Company South Africa Bloem Open, an International Tennis Federation (ITF) Futures event, part of the UNIQLO Wheelchair tennis tour at Oud Studente Tennis Club in Bloemfontein on Monday.
Els saw off fifth-seeded Patrick Selepe with a straight sets 6-2 6-2 win to advance, Meanwhile, Venter wasn’t threatened in her straight-set victory, dropping no game against Lethabo Shai.
“I enjoyed the match today, I was relaxed and my game plan just came together”, said Els.
“It is not going to be an easy trip going into the semi-finals because I haven’t played Daniel Shmulik before but I am prepared and looking forward to the challenge”, Els said following his win. Els will take on Israel’s Daniel Shmulik in tomorrow’s sem-ifinal round.
Second-seed Nico Langmann of Austria and third-seed Israel’s Amir Levi were among the other seeded men who won their matches. The country’s Gwitja Mayenzeke seeded-eight did not give it way easy to fourth-seeded Daniel Shmulik of Israel in the last men’s quarterfinal match that took over 2 hours. The quarterfinal match between Mayenzeke and Shmulik was about as close as you’d expect a faceoff of the world’s No. 40 and No. 43 players to be, as they split the first two sets. The Israeli dropped the second set, but dominated the third to win the match 6-1 2-6 6-2 to advance to the semi-final round.
Former junior world no.1 and women’s top seed Mariska Venter won her quarterfinal round match comfortably with a straight sets win. Venter dispatched unseeded Lethabo Shai 6-0 6-0 and will go head to head against fourth-seeded Nonkanyiso Nyosi in Monday’s semi-final round.
The women’s second seed, Thando Hlatswayo, won her match to reach the semi-final round as she advanced with a 6-0 6-1 win over Lerato Mathonsi. Hlatswayo next plays third-seed Nokwande Hlongwane, who toppled Simamkele Zondwayo 6-0 6-0.
Play starts at 09h00 on Tuesday.
