Making a racket abroad
PARKMORE- Sandton Sports Club tennis player Richard Thongoana (14) performed extremely well during the Nike Junior Tennis Championship tournaments in America last year.
According to Richard Thongoana Sr, his son went on to play in the Nike Junior International tournament and finished in a round of 16 players.
“He overcame the highly-rated number two seeded player from Australia in a very closely contested match winning 7-5, 7-6, a really phenomenal feat,” said Thongoana.
When Richard returned to South Africa, he was called up to play in the B16 African Junior Championships qualifiers in Gaborone which started on 4 January. Despite being the youngest player, he performed well and finished in the semi-finals, losing to the number one seed and eventual winner of the B16 category 5-7, 6-7.
South Africa was the overall winner and the team will go on to play in Nairobi in March. Richard was also called up to join the South Africa Davies Cup team playing in Monaco. He will be joined by three top junior players from around the country for the senior team.
“This was a real privilege and honour,” said Thongoana.
He explained that during the tournament in America, a club at IMG expressed interest in his son after they saw him playing, but nothing has materialised yet. President of The Christian Hill Academy in Philadelphia, Tes Myrie, has invited Richard and his coaches for a short observation programme in America. Richard is still number one in South Africa in the B14 category.
