The Maun Open Tournament delivered a thrilling close to the local tennis calendar on Saturday, drawing together athletes from across Maun and other surrounding areas for the final showdown of the year.
The tournament, sponsored by Kalahari Breeze and Tau Accounting and Management Consultants, once again highlighted the sponsors’ continued commitment to supporting sports development in the region. Having previously invested in nurturing chess talent in Maun, their involvement in tennis further strengthened community engagement in youth and adult sporting activities.
This year’s competition brought together nine men and five women, all eager to end the year on a high note. The atmosphere around the courts was electric as players, families and supporters gathered to witness the last major tennis event of the season. For many, the tournament served as both a competitive platform and a celebration of the sport’s growing presence in Maun.
The women’s division featured a round-robin format, a structure that required each player to face every opponent in their pool. The winner, therefore, would be the competitor who accumulated the most victories throughout the sequence of matches. This approach not only tested skill but also endurance, consistency and mental resilience. After a series of well-contested matches, Tapiwa Masunga rose above the field, showcasing exceptional form, patience and determination. She sealed her triumph with a tight 7–5 win over Neo German in the final match that determined the overall standings. German, who had shown strong composure throughout the tournament, settled for second place, while Kegone Koma secured third position after demonstrating promising improvement and grit.
The men’s category offered equally compelling drama, culminating in a tense and entertaining final between Kgotso Kejakang and Thabiso Ofhakae. The match opened with Ofhakae dominating the first set 6–2, using strong groundstrokes and confidently dictating play. Kejakang, however, showed remarkable resilience, recovering impressively to push the second set into a tiebreak, which he edged 7–6.
With the match levelled and momentum shifting, the players moved into a deciding super tiebreak. Kejakang’s composure and precision proved the difference as he claimed the final 10–6, securing the Men’s Singles title and sparking loud celebrations from supporters gathered courtside. Ofhakae’s second-place finish underscored a spirited performance, while Archie Kemoabe rounded out the podium in third place with a commendable run throughout the competition.
Mixed Doubles brought a lively and entertaining close to the programme, with Kgotso Kejakang partnering once again with Tapiwa Masunga to claim top honours. Their chemistry and tactical synergy were evident as they outplayed strong opponents throughout the format. Angie Makula and Oratile Rabothako took second place after a spirited showing, while the duo of Kegone Koma and Archie Kemoabe secured third.
