Younger SA Stars Elected for Billie Jean King Cup

South African captain Roxanne Clarke has chosen 4 rising stars to symbolize the nationwide squad on the Billie Jean King (BJK) Cup Europe-Africa Group II competitors, which is able to happen in Oeiras, Portugal from 10-15 April 2023.

The nationwide crew consists of Mari-Louise van Zyl (16) Naledi Manyube (18) Suzanie Pretorius (18) and Isabella Kruger (16).

Within the worldwide ladies’s crew competitors, van Zyl, Pretorius, and Kruger will all make their debuts, whereas Manyube retains her spot within the line-up after making her debut final season when South Africa completed fifth in Skopje, North Macedonia.

Kruger will function the nationwide crew’s captain regardless of making her debut and being youthful than nearly all of her teammates. She has proven huge potential by making all of it the way in which to the junior quarterfinals at Wimbledon final 12 months, regardless of solely being ranked within the prime 400 for singles and the highest 1000 for doubles by the WTA.

“The competitors shall be fairly robust as a result of we’ve moved up a gaggle from final 12 months, however the crew is trying superb,” Clarke mentioned after naming the SA crew.

“We’re fairly enthusiastic about giving these younger gamers an opportunity to symbolize their nation. We’re actually going for it and giving ourselves an opportunity to maneuver as much as the following stage.

“It is going to be a really robust job, however as all the time we look ahead to the competitors and we’re prepared to offer our greatest.”

Staff South Africa:

Isabella Kruger
Mari-Louise Van Zyl
Naledi Manyube
Suzanie Pretorius
Roxanne Clarke (Captain)
Leanne Samaai (Physiotherapist)

Photograph 1 Caption: Naledi Manyube has been chosen to symbolize South Africa on the Billie Jean King Cup Europe-Africa Group II competitors. Photograph: Tennis SA (Twitter)