Youri, Seetso improve rankings
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday December 4, 2021 06:00
The players improved their rankings after excelling at the Africa Junior Championships (AJC) in Tunisia. The players were competing against the best in the continent. According to the International Tennis Federation (ITF) ranking, Youri is ranked 470 in the world after playing 16 events. It is a step up by 337 points. Chelsea Chakanyuka is ranked 887 which is an improvement of 200 points after 27 events. Naledi Raguin is seated at 1,085 after 12 events. Seetso is ranked 647, improving by 264 points after playing 18 events.
Mark Nawa is ranked 1,529 after 12 events, which is an improvement, by 560 points. Batsomi Marobela is at 1,565 after playing 15 events. Loago Saleshando is ranked 2,468 dropping 14 places after playing 10 events. Oabona Koobatlile is positioned at 2,887 dropping by 23 points after four events. Speaking to Mmegi Sport, Botswana Tennis Association (BTA) president, Oaitse Thipe said Youri went from having no ITF rankings to being ranked 470 in the world. “That means she could play Junior Wimbledon or US Open next year. Seetso is also in the running to reach Grand Slam by the end of next year. The rankings of Raguin, Chakanyuka and Nawa have seen their rankings rise after doing well at the AJC,” he said.
Players in the Junior Wimbledon are aged between 14 and 18. They do not receive prize money; they do receive ranking points that count towards their international junior ranking. Stefan Edberg remains the only player to have completed the 'Junior Grand Slam' by winning the junior event at all four Grand Slams. Thipe said after competing at the AJC, the team was expected to travel to Lesotho for the AUSC Region 5 Games.
He explained that Youri and Raguin withdrew because of the travel ban on Southern Africa due to the outbreak of the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron. However, Seetso, Nawa and Chakanyuka will play the Region 5 Games.
The trio is expected to arrive in Maseru tomorrow. Seetso is travelling to Lesotho with a chip on his shoulder after seeing off Mohomad Sanac of Tunisia with a 6-4-6-1. Nawa has been unfortunate after losing in the first round while Chakanyuka lost in the second round.