Kruger takes Challenge title

2000-12-28 08:07

Stellenbosch - Joannette Kruger staved off a late challenge from Durbanite Natalie Grandin to capture the women's singles title at the Cape Times Challenge tennis tournament at the Spier stadium on Wednesday.

Kruger won the match 6-3 6-4 but she had to work hard in the closing stages as Grandin rallied from 2-5 down in the second set. In the end though, Kruger just had the ability to pull out that extra shot when she needed it.

The 27-year-old from Gauteng served for the title at 5-2 but Grandin, realising she had little to lose, threw everything she had into the match. She broke Kruger, held for a 4-5 and then forced Kruger all the way before her more experienced opponent finally converted a match point.

Grandin reached the final courtesy of a walkover when Croatian Sylvija Talaja had to withdraw due to a bladder infection. Kruger scored a straightforward 6-4 6-0 victory over Mareze Joubert in her semifinal contest.

Peter-Jon Nomdo's hot streak came to an end in the men's quarterfinals on Wednesday but his more fancied opponent, Wesley Moodie, had to avert a match point before going through 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 7-6 (7-5).

Serving at 4-5 in the final set, Moodie moved to the brink of defeat when Nomdo needed just one more point with a second serve to come.

But Moodie saved it in style - with an ace. The tie-breaker was a pretty tight affair but Moodie just found that little bit extra.

Justin Bower looked a little rusty at the start of his match against Punch Maleka. However, once he found his rhythm, he found all the chinks in Maleka's armour, finally winning through 3-6 6-4 6-0.

In Thursday's semifinals, Moodie plays top seed Wayne Ferreira while Bower takes on George Bastl. The Swiss player moved into the number two slot when American Jan-Michael Gambill had to pull out with a back injury which has troubled him for the past few months.

World Doubles champions Don Johnson and Pietie Norval make their first appearance on Thursday when they play Jeff Coetzee and Jason Weir Smith while top seeds David Adams and John-Laffnie de Jager face Andrew Anderson and WP Meyer in the other semifinal.

Results:

Men:

Singles - quarterfinals:

Wesley Moodie bt Peter-Jon Nomdo 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 7-6 (7-5)

Justin Bower bt Punch Maleka 3-6 6-4 6-0

Doubles - quarterfinals:

Andrew Anderson/WP Meyer bt Wesley Moodie/Shaun Rudman 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-3)

Jeff Coetzee/Jason Weir-Smith bt Nicholas McDonald/Dirk Stegmann 6-4 6-1

Women:

Singles - semifinals:

Natalie Grandin bt Sylvija Talaja (Croatia) - walkover

Joannette Kruger bt Mareze Joubert 6-4 6-0

Final:

Kruger bt Grandin 6-3 6-4 - Sapa

- SAPA