Els scoops second Bloem Open title
Bloem Open champ … Wheelchair tennis Leon Els walked away with another Bloem Open title as widely anticipated
The Potchefstroom wheelchair tennis player claimed titles in both the men’s singles and doubles matchups while other top seeds also win titles
Top seed Leon Els won his second Airports Company South Africa Bloem Open men’s singles title at Oud Studente Tennis Club in Bloemfontein on Wednesday, successfully fending off his biggest rival Marshall Marsh in straight sets.
The 28-year-old from Potchefstroom took a 4-0 lead in both sets before wrapping up a surprisingly easy 6-0 6-1 victory in just less than an hour.
Els and Marsh later teamed up against Gift Lekhanyane and Alwande Skhosana whom they beat 6-3 6-1 to claim their second doubles title in Bloemfontein.
Women’s number one seed Mariska Venter and quad player Danny Mohlamonyane also claimed final victories to retain their women’s and quads singles titles respectively to make it a fantastic competition for the top seeds at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Futures event in Mangaung.
Meanwhile, the unstoppable force that is Venter also cruised to her second Bloem Open crown after surviving a scar in the opening set. The Mpumalanga wheelchair tennis queen beat compatriot Thando Hlatswayo 7-5 6-4 to extend an unbeaten run in Mangaung.
The rivals joined forces to capture their second doubles title in the City of Roses after they eliminated Nokwanda Hlongwane and Nyosi Nonkanyiso. Meanwhile Danny Mohlamonyane ensured that all the top seeds picked up the titles as he continued his dominance in the quads round robin event and recorded his first crown.
Top juniors Skhosana and Hlongwane also recorded their second titles on Wednesday when they defeated Mpho Mhlongo 6-0 7-5 and Lucy Shirima from Tanzania 6-2 6-2 for the boys and girls singles titles respectively.
