The cream of South African junior tennis will begin to arrive in Mangaung, the Free State capital, this week for the upcoming Growthpoint Junior National Championships.
The country's premier junior tennis event will be held at four premier Bloemfontein venues in four age groups: under 12, 14, 16, and 18 for both girls and boys.
Over 490 juniors have entered for the six-day event, which will take place from 6 to 11 April, 2023.
The under-12 age group will compete at Grey and Eunice School, while the under-14 age group will battle it out at the University of Free State courts.
The Free State Stadium will host the boys and girls under 16 and under 18 age groups. All the finals on Monday 11 April 2023 will be played at the main venue, the Free State Tennis Stadium.
The South African flagship junior event will succeed the Free State Growthpoint Super 8 junior event at the same Bloemfontein venues. The Growthpoint Super 8 tournament will take place from March 31st to April 5th, 2023.
The tournaments, according to Gavin Crookes, President of Tennis South Africa (TSA), are an important part of the development and advancement of tennis in South Africa.
"These junior events provide invaluable experience to our players and are often the launching pad for our sport's future stars, thanks to Growthpoint Properties' ongoing support."
"Most significantly, the Growthpoint Junior National Championships, which has attracted over 490 entries this year, provide an ideal platform for athletes from all parts of the country to exchange cultures and become friends, which is an important part of the players' and the game's growth.
Crookes stated that Bloemfontein remains an ideal location for the big event. "We have chosen Bloemfontein to host the Junior National over the years because it has a lot of fantastic courts, great tennis venues, and an abundance of affordable accommodation."