Dowie claims first ITF doubles title

Namibia’s rising tennis talent Israel Dowie claimed his first doubles title at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) U18 J30 Junior World Tennis Tour tournament in Windhoek on Friday.The fifteen-year-old was a standout performer at Olympia’s Central Tennis Courts, emerging as the only Namibian to reach both the singles and doubles finals at the event.He had already made headlines in March last year when he won his first senior tournament in Cape Town, South Africa.Partnering South Africa’s Oluhle Senti in the boys’ doubles, the pair battled through a competitive field featuring top junior players from Europe, Asia and North America.They opened their campaign by recording a double bagel (6-0, 6-0) win over the Philippines’ Brice Vincent Baisa and American Tim Maximilian Friese.Dowie and Senti followed up with another straight-sets victory (6-0, 6-1) against South Africans Lukas Calitz and Nicholas Kruger.Toughest testsThe semi-final proved to be their sternest challenge. They took the opening set 6-4 against Norway’s Henrik Aamann and Mattis Thorsnes.Aamann and Thorsnes responded to claim the second 7-5 and force a super tie-break, which Dowie and Senti edged 10-6.The pair carried that momentum into the final, where they overcame South Africa’s Kei Badenhorst and Austria’s Lucas Wieser 7-5, 6-4 to secure the J30 doubles title.Reflecting on the win, Dowie said the pair grew into the match.“I’m feeling good [about this victory]. At the start, we were not really in it. But as the match progressed, we started playing confidently and being brave,” he said.He added that the sudden-death deuce points proved decisive, as he and Senti managed those moments better.Dowie also expressed confidence ahead of the ITF U18 J60 Junior World Tennis Tour tournament, which starts today and runs until Saturday at the same venue.Senti shared similar sentiments, joking: “We played really well. I carried Israel [Dowie] to get his first ITF title here in his home country. He must be very happy.”Singles final showdownFollowing their doubles triumph, the pair faced off in the singles final after dominant runs through the draw, both chasing a first ITF singles title.Top seed Senti and second seed Dowie delivered a high-quality contest that lasted close to two and a half hours, featuring long rallies and multiple deuce games.In the end, Senti’s higher ITF junior ranking (469 compared to Dowie’s 673 as of 20 April) proved telling, as he secured a 6-4, 6-4 victory.“I knew from the beginning he wasn’t going to give me anything easily. I had to work for every point, and in the end it paid off,” said Senti.He revealed it was his fourth J30 final: “This one is really special. The match started when I knew I was going to play him [Dowie]. I had a tough three-set semi-final the day before, so I had to recover quickly and be ready.”On their familiarity, Senti noted that Dowie leads their head-to-head.“We know each other’s weaknesses from training together, and today I just exploited them better,” he said.‘Super proud’Dowie’s father and coach, Duane, who also coaches Senti, reflected on the final.“It was a tough match. I couldn’t really support either player, even though Israel is my son. At the end of the day, we’re proud that both our players reached the final…we’re going home with a winner’s medal,” he said.He praised both players’ mentality and work ethic.“They understand that no dream is realised without sacrifice and investment. These athletes train six hours a day while balancing school, which is admirable.“Congratulations to Senti for a magnificent match. He was brilliant in the first set and did what he had to do in the second to close it out,” he said.Duane added that after the J60 tournament, Dowie is expected to compete in more J60 events in Pretoria before heading to international tournaments outside Africa.Girls’ championsThe girls’ singles title was won by Portugal’s Catarina Braun, while Australia’s Ceressa Jackson and South Africa’s Milan Swanepoel claimed the doubles title.Namibia fielded five players in the J30 event, all part of the country’s Podium Performance Programme (PPP) targeting qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.Joanivia Bezuidenhout and Mari van Schalkwyk reached the girls’ quarterfinals in both singles and doubles.Johan Theron and Ruben Yssel exited in the first round of the boys’ singles, with Yssel retiring from his match. Both players also lost in the opening round of the doubles with different partners.All five players will compete in the J60 event, having qualified through their ITF rankings. Theron received a wildcard into the main draw, alongside Henlou du Toit, who did not compete in the J30 event.In the qualifying draw, Breyton Bezuidenhout (13) made his ITF U18 debut but did not progress, while Jaden van der Westhuizen also featured, competing under the German flag.– mariud@nsh.com.na

Dowie claims first ITF doubles title

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Dowie claims first ITF doubles title

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