Game, set and match. The Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU) is set to become the country’s premier tennis destination with the completion of five new clay courts. These courts, together with ten hard courts and two grass courts, make the NWU unrivalled when compared to the court and facility offerings of other institutions.

The NWU is already a sought-after host, thanks to the successful presentation of many national and international tournaments, for example, the Davis Cup tie between South Africa and the Netherlands.

The global door is now truly open, and excitement, as well as anticipation, abounds.

“Everybody already wants to use our clay courts and they are not even finished yet!” exclaims Heléne Botha, who is, among other things, tennis manager at the Potchefstroom Campus. 

“The ground levels have been laid. We are only waiting for the clay from Italy. I have been at the NWU for 19 years and this has always been one of my dreams. To see it coming to fruition is so exciting. Five years ago, we started with the clay court project and we also replaced the bowling greens with grass tennis courts. We are a dedicated team working on the project together with our sport director, Sheldon Rostron, and Riaan Venter from the Riaan Venter Tennis Academy, to name but a few. Everyone is so invested in making it a success. It is an amazing feeling,” says Botha.

She goes on to explain that the NWU sports team will first learn how to manage the new courts properly before they will be opened for tournaments next year.

“It is difficult, because we are so eager to get the ball rolling and we have had so many requests to use our clay courts when they are ready, but we need to be patient.”

It is this approach that has reaped so many benefits for sport at the NWU.

“Look at all our sports codes and the quality of our facilities. Look at our exemplary achievements. It is sometimes mind-blowing.”

Watch this space to see what new heights sport at the NWU will reach.