Randburg Open SF: van Niekerk Downs Top Seed To Make Final

Home favourite Dewald van Niekerk took down the top seed at the Pay by Face Randburg Open, after beating top seed Edwin Clain in the last four in South Africa.

Van Niekerk came into the tournament as the No.3 seed, and he took on the top seed in the last four of the Challenger 5 level competition. The South African used the home advantage, defeating Clain in straight games in 38 minutes to advance to the final.

He will take on another Frenchman in the final, in No.2 seed Toufik Mekhalfi. The World No.180 overcame South Africa’s Jean-Pierre Brits in five games. He had to survive a comeback from the home hope, before regrouping to win in the fifth game of the competition.

The women’s final will also see a France-South Africa battle, with top seed Elise Romba taking on home favourite Cheyna Wood. The South African came from behind to defeat Egypt’s Nour Khafagy in a five-game battle, while Romba downed Ukrainian Anastasiia Kostiukova in four games.

The finals of the PaybyFace Randburg Open will take place on Sunday, October 23, with both finals featuring South Africa against France.

Men’s Semi-Final Results: PaybyFace Randburg Open
[3] Dewald van Niekerk (RSA) bt [1] Edwin Clain (FRA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-3 (38m)
[2] Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) bt [4] Jean-Pierre Brits (RSA) 3-2: 11-5, 11-9, 7-11, 6-11, 11-4 (63m)

Men’s Final Draw: To Be Played Sunday, October 23
[3] Dewald van Niekerk (RSA) v [2] Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA)

Women’s Semi-Final Results: PaybyFace Randburg Open
[1] Elise Romba (FRA) bt [3] Anastasiia Kostiukova (UKR) 3-1: 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-4 (38m)
[7] Cheyna Wood (RSA) bt Nour Khafagy (EGY) 3-2: 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 12-10 (61m)

Women’s Final Draw: To Be Played Sunday, October 23
[1] Elise Romba (FRA) v [7] Cheyna Wood (RSA)