JTTS prospect heads to Rafa Nadal Academy

Namibia’s Johan Theron Tennis School (JTTS) will send one of its top junior prospects, Johan Theron (14), to a two-week training camp at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain this May.

Theron is the country’s top-ranked boys’ U14 junior player and made a name for himself by becoming Namibia’s youngest player (12) to compete at the prestigious Senior Masters Championship in 2024.

He has also enjoyed numerous successes on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) U14 circuit.

Theron was invited to the Spanish academy after JTTS joined the international tennis academies programme last year to provide its players with greater international exposure, following an invitation from Curro South Africa.

Grand Slam champion

The Spanish academy forms part of a growing international network of training centres established by 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael “Rafa” Nadal, designed to give talented juniors access to world-class tennis development opportunities.

Ahead of the Spanish training camp, Theron left yesterday to compete on the ITF/CAT circuit in South Africa and Zimbabwe, and is also eyeing another training camp at a German tennis academy in July.

“I am very excited about [these trips]. It will be a great experience for me,” he told Sport Wrap yesterday.

Theron is the son of Namibia’s former professional tennis player, JTTS owner and veteran coach Johan Theron, who represented the country at the African Games and in the Davis Cup between 2000 and 2007. He also served as Davis Cup captain until 2018.

JTTS players

Theron said JTTS aims to give international exposure to as many tennis players as possible by sending them to play college tennis and providing them with opportunities to represent the country.

“We have had players like Jurgens Strydom, who was once number one in Africa and ranked 58th in the world in the U18 category; Tukhula Jacobs, who represented Namibia in the Davis Cup; and Lisa Yssel, who played in the Billie Jean King Cup,” he said.

The ranks at JTTS have produced numerous players who have gone on to achieve success in the sport, both on the African circuit and internationally.

Mari van Schalkwyk has represented the country in the Billie Jean King Cup and has enjoyed success on the ITF U18 Junior Tour, including a doubles silver medal in February.

Connor and Codie van Schalkwyk play college tennis in the United States and have also represented Namibia in the Davis Cup, alongside Nguvi Hinda, who this year also joined the coaching staff at JTTS, and Ruben Yssel.

Yssel played his first senior international match in the Davis Cup in February.

‘Let’s collaborate’

Another addition to the JTTS coaching staff is Clifford Ngunovandu, whose pedigree includes winning titles at the Namibia Tennis Association (NTA) Schools League Nationals in 2024 with Bernhard Nordkamp Centre (BNC).

Ngunovandu specialises in developing beginners into competitive junior players capable of challenging the best in the country.

He welcomed his collaboration with veteran coach Theron and said they have big plans to uplift tennis in the country.

“As coaches, we need to stop competing with one another and instead collaborate to collectively develop the country’s tennis talent,” he said.

Individuals interested in joining JTTS can contact the academy at 081 430 1991 or 081 128 2181.

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