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Curro Centre Court: A racket of tennis excitement

22 July 2024

Local and international players played their hearts out in the recent Curro Centre Court tournament in partnership with Tennis South Africa. For three weeks in June and July, Curro Hillcrest played host while Curro alumni such as Luc Koenig and Isabella Kruger made their alma mater proud alongside players from Canada, Italy, Japan, and more. Read more below!

 

Khololwam Montsi, Curro Centre Court, Curro Sport, Curro ITF

 

A trailblazing event

These three weeks of spectacular tennis featured three men’s and three women’s ITF combined tournaments. Robbie Koenig, the world’s most acclaimed tennis commentator (and formerly a professional player himself) applauded the creation of a new local tennis tournament that forms part of a World Tennis Tour. These events offered an opportunity for rising local tennis stars to face off against international professional players with attractive prize pots on offer. They also provided Curro Hillcrest with the opportunity to show off the world-class tennis facilities on their high school campus. Jared Temlett – the tournament director – and his team truly did a magnificent job of ensuring that everything ran smoothly.

 

Participants and winners from across the globe

Players from Australia, Bulgaria, Italy, Japan, the USA, and others proudly represented their countries, with many even winning their draws.

Here are the results:

Week 1:

  • Men’s singles winner: Phillip Henning (RSA)
  • Women’s singles winner: Matilde Mariani (ITA)
  • Men’s doubles winners: Alec Beckley (RSA) and Alexander Donski (BUL)
  • Women’s doubles winners: Matilde Mariani (ITA) and Beatrice Stagno (ITA)

 

Zoe Kruger, Curro Centre Court, Curro Sport, Curro ITF

 

Week 2:

  • Men’s singles winner: Khololwam Montsi (RSA)
  • Women’s singles winner: Isabella Kruger (RSA)
  • Men’s doubles winners: Akram El Sallaly (EGY) and Kholowam Montsi (RSA)
  • Women’s doubles winners: Matilde Mariani (ITA) and Beatrice Stagno (ITA

 

Khololwam and Akram, Curro Centre Court, Curro Sport, Curro ITF 1

 

Week 3:

  • Men’s singles winner: Devin Badenhorst (RSA)
  • Women’s singles winner: Zoe Kruger (RSA)
  • Men’s doubles winners: Luc Koenig (GBR) and Devin Badenhorst (RSA)
  • Women’s doubles winners: Ksenia Laskutova (RTF) and Verena Meliss (ITA)

 

Devon, Luc Curro Centre Court, Curro Sport, Curro ITF

 

Curro alumni made their alma mater proud

Khololwam Montsi (Curro Hazeldean) and Devin Badenhorst had an epic tussle. In the first set, Khololwam put him at 5-4, and ultimately won the match. ‘This was my first professional title and to win at home is more than special. I came through the ranks at Curro Hazeldean and it is sublime to complete the circle with a win on a Curro court, in Hillcrest,’ he shared with us. ‘Devin and I are great friends and I’m proud of him for what he achieved this week. I had to dig deep.’

Other alumni, sisters Isabella and Zoe Kruger (Curro Hazeldean), Luc Koenig (Curro Hillcrest) and Kris van Wyk (Curro Durbanville) also gave their best. Isabella is the country’s top women’s player and claimed an impressive victory over Japan’s Michika Ozeki. Three current learners from these schools included Ashtyn Cason, Grace Koenig (Luc’s sister) and Kudzai Chapepa. Several other learners also served as ball kids.

 

Isabella Kruger, Curro Centre Court, Curro Sport, Curro ITF

 

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