Best of wheelchair tennis coming to PE

By Neale Emslie

PORT Elizabeth wheelchair tennis ace Marshall Marsh will be pitting his skills against some of the best players in Southern Africa when the Eastern Cape Open is played.

The tournament, sponsored by Airports Company SA (Acsa), will take place at NMMU from December 5 to 8 and Marsh will be keen to do well in front of his home fans.

A section for juniors will also form part of the Eastern Cape Open, which is expected to attract about 80 entries, many of them from the sport’s regional programmes.

While Marsh is among the top-ranked players in South Africa, currently rated No 2, the competition at the tournament promises to be stiff.

The Open men’s draw is sure

to offer top-class competition,

with London Paralympians Evans Maripa, the SA No 1, and Nyasha Mharakurwa, the Zimbabwe No 1, competing.

Besides Marsh, another top contender will be Leon Els, from Potchefstroom, ranked No 4 in the country.

Marsh, though, is hoping to use a familiar venue to his advantage.

"I know the conditions very well, ”

he said. "I play there, I get coached there [by Hennie de Klerk] and it’s really nice to have a home tournament so I am looking forward to that.”

A final year human movement science student at NMMU, Marsh is busy juggling his academic commitments with his need to prepare for the Eastern Cape Open.

Marsh feels he has a good chance in the tournament, but knows the opposition will be tough. "Maripa is a good player and there is also Els, so the competition will be strong,” he said. The junior division is set to be highly

competitive and will capture a lot of interest as several

of the country’s top junior players have been invited to participate in the Cruyff Foundation Junior Masters that will take place in France from January 24-27.

Gift Lekhanyane and Mariska Venter, South Africa’s top two

juniors, and the exciting Thato Tsomole will represent South Africa at this event and will use the Eastern Cape Open as preparation.

Other top juniors to watch at the tournament are Sean de Hilster, Mabel Mankgele and Thando Hlastwayo.

This is a shortened version of an article that appeared in the print edition of the Weekend Post on Saturday, November 24, 2012.