Joburg’s rising tennis star, 15, off to Wimbledon
23 June 2015
A15-year-old Johannesburg rising tennis star is to fly out to Wimbledon on Thursday June 25 to compete in the under-15 women’s singles and doubles tennis tournaments after a sterling performance at the City of Johannesburg’s inaugural Amos Masondo Games at the weekend.
Aszner Louw, of Roodepoort in Region C, and her partner, Sheryl Stolls, were awarded gold medals by Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Councillor Chris Vondo after they won the women’s doubles final in sensational and emphatic style during the Games at Marks Park Sports Grounds in Emmarentia on Saturday.
The annual Games, which in their debut featured 17 sporting codes, are in honour of Amos Masondo, the first Executive Mayor of Johannesburg in the democratic era.
MMC Vondo said it was Masondo’s determination and desire to encourage and nurture talent. He said Johannesburg was a city where community development, personal growth and social mobility were addressed so the fight against poverty and vulnerability could be enhanced.
“This is obviously in pursuance of the values that our former Executive Mayor Masondo left us with. He was very passionate about sports, especially sports involving the youth,” said MMC Vondo.
The presentation of the gold medals to Aszner, a Grade 7 learner at Monument High in Krugersdorp, and Stolls was one of the highlights of the Amos Masondo Games.
Aszner, who is also a gymnastics enthusiast, was born into a sporting family. Her father Arnold, who had accompanied her to the games, is an active sportsman who coaches table tennis.
“It’s wonderful to see my daughter receiving such recognition. It’s very encouraging,” he said.
Aszner started playing tennis at the tender age of seven. She wants to be a professional tennis player in the mould of her idol, Serena Williams, in the not-too-distant future.
She was selected to take part in the Wimbledon under-15 singles and doubles tournaments after she was selected by the youth wing of Tennis SA to represent the country.
“Now that I will be playing in Wimbledon, it feels like I will be literally walking in Serena’s footsteps. It’s like my dreams are slowly turning into reality,” she said. Of concern, though, is that she does not have a sponsor to make her trip to Wimbledon complete.
Any Good Samaritan who can assist her realise her dream can contact her father, Arnold, on 083 353 4893.