16 Apr 2025

Botswana tennis player, Seabo Saleshando has proceeded to the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors J60 quarterfinals after beating Eric Sigauque of Mozambique 6-2, 6-2 at the National Tennis Centre in Gaborone today. 

Saleshando made his intentions of representing the country in the next round clear from the set go and  dominated the second set, as his opponent was found wanting most of the time. In a post match interview, Saleshando said despite being the only Motswana player to proceed to the quarterfinals, he would absorb all the pressure and play his normal game. 

“But there were times that I played with a lot of nerves, and my intension is to correct that in my next match,” he said.

Meanwhile, Botswana rising tennis player, Malak Macheng bowed out of the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors J60 tournament after suffering a 6-1, 6-0 defeat from Allegra Van Der Walt of South Africa. Despite losing, Malak will take solace in that making it to the second round and earning her first ITF junior ranking points.

To qualify for the first round, Malak won against Zambia’s Mukangwa Siame 6-4, 6-1 and went on to beat Tanaka Mhanga 7-6, 6-4.  In the first round match, she overcame Phuti Leshoele 6-0, 6-3 who tormented her in their previous clashes at CAT tournaments level. However, her journey to proceed to the next round was stopped by experienced 17-yea-old, Van Der Walt’s attacks. 

Malak said in an interview that she was happy with her overall performance, adding that making to the second round of ITF was a bonus. She said players from across the world came ready to compete, which exposed a lot of young players like her, to do better in future.

Furthermore, she said the exposure also taught them new tactics, adding that the J60 tournament had given her a clear sign and prepared her for other future tournaments. The Botswana Sport Awards Junior Sportswoman of the Year said she her target was to play a J30 tournament in Zimbabwe in May.

In other results, Alicia Taylor of South Africa beat Akeelah Khanye of Zimbabwe 6-0, 6-0, Charlotte Bouwer from South Africa beat her country lady, Asheley Taylor 6-3, 6-2. Lonwabo Majeke of South Africa lost 6-4, 6-4 to Takara Giles, while Courtney Kemp lost 6-3, 6-3 to Meri Sandenbergh. ENDS