Marilouise van Zyl turned a qualifying run into a dream finish, claiming her first professional singles title in Gaborone.
Gaborone, Botswana (26 May 2026) – South African tennis had a brilliant weekend in Botswana, with local players making big moves on the international stage and bringing home titles and memorable performances.
The standout story belonged to Marilouise van Zyl, who captured her first professional women’s singles title at the ITF tournament in Gaborone after an incredible run through the competition.
What made the achievement even more impressive was the fact that Van Zyl started her campaign in the qualifying rounds before fighting her way all the way to the title. Along the way, she took down opponents from the USA, Luxembourg, Italy, India, Poland and Denmark in a week packed with tough battles and standout performances.
She eventually sealed the trophy with a brilliant 7-6(5), 6-1 victory over Denmark’s Elena Jamshidi in the final, capping off a breakthrough moment in her young career.
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South African men’s tennis also had plenty to celebrate thanks to Alec Beckley, who lifted the men’s singles title in Gaborone after his opponent retired during the final while trailing 4-1.
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There was more good news for South Africa too, with Ethan Terblanche and his Australian partner finishing as runners-up in the men’s doubles competition.
All in all, it was a standout week for South African tennis in Botswana, with breakthrough moments, silverware and plenty of momentum to build on going forward.
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