The Mbombela Open is in full swing with global players dominating local courts. Alec Beckley registered yet another victory.
Beckley has a knack for winning and dominating tournaments in Mpumalanga’s capital city, and this past Sunday was no different as he etched his name into the history books once again. He defeated Giulio Perego in the title match of the inaugural Mbombela Open Global Series M15, part of the International Tennis Federation World Tennis Tour. The victory made it four titles in four visits to Mbombela Tennis Club (formerly Nelspruit Tennis Club) on Court 1.
READ | Mbombela Open set for 2025
The South Africa Davis Cup Team player knows Court 1 like the back of his hand, having won the Mbombela Open title consecutively from 2023 to 2025, and his experience showed in the way he played. Returning for Global Series Week One, the second seed defeated Italy’s Perego 7-5, 6-1 in front of a partisan crowd. Among those in attendance were Leah Mabuza, Acting Mayor of the City of Mbombela William Nkhatha, and Mpumalanga Tennis Association president Karel Jacobs.
The 24-year-old did not drop a single set on his way to the title and was at his mercurial best in the final, particularly in the second set, where he consistently put the Italian’s serve under pressure and was rewarded with crucial breaks.
It was also the first time in 26 years that a tennis match at the club was broadcast live on national television since the 2000 Davis Cup tie against Yugoslavia, where tournament director Sabelo Mathebula served as a court warden.
Meanwhile, in the women’s W15 singles final, Dune Vaissaud of France defeated Darja Suvirdjonkova of Serbia 6-3, 7-5.
READ MORE | Kruger United secures promotion to PSL
The International Tennis Federation World Tennis Tour is widely regarded as a breeding ground for elite talent, having helped shape the early careers of many of today’s stars, including current world number one Carlos Alcaraz, who honed his skills on this circuit before taking the ATP Tour and Grand Slam stages by storm. One of the circuit’s current rising talents is Moise Kouame of France, who is already making waves on the ATP Tour.
Week Two of the Global Series is currently underway and concludes on Sunday, with the finals scheduled to start at 09:30 at Mbombela Tennis Club.
