Nortje recognised by tennis body

NAMIBIA’S former tennis star Elizma Nortje was recently honoured by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for her contribution to the development of tennis in her home country and abroad.

Nortje, who received an award in Milan, Italy, recently, said she was pleasantly surprised to be recognised for her contribution to tennis. “They described it as being part the tennis history and the first tennis generation in my country,” she said.Nortje said she was also recognised for being the first Namibian tennis player to receive junior Springbok colours and also receiving a full scholarship at an American university (NCAA) Division 1 at the San Diego State University in California.In her career, she was also an all-American singles and doubles player and played professionally on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour and competed in Grand Slam events.She is also the second ever women tennis president in Africa, while she was also chosen as the coach for the-16 and under junior teams by the ITF.She said the ITF described her achievements as “paving the way and opening doors for future players of Namibia and being a role model for African women tennis players”.In June this year, Nortje was assigned by the ITF to coach and work with the six best under-16 girls in the world.They were from China, Indonesia, India, the Czech Republic and Russia.”My experience working with these players will be an investment at home with my players and coaches at Pro Tennis Academy, the Young Tennis Star programme and the FNB development programme of the Namibia Tennis Association (NTA) that I am responsible for,” she said.She said it was a great privilege for her to be chosen by the ITF for the second consecutive year to work with the best under-16 players in the world.She said the players under her guidance have competed in three tournaments held in Italy in cities such as Crema, Monticatini and Milan.Her players competed at the Junior French Open and the Junior Wimbledon.”They described it as being part the tennis history and the first tennis generation in my country,” she said.Nortje said she was also recognised for being the first Namibian tennis player to receive junior Springbok colours and also receiving a full scholarship at an American university (NCAA) Division 1 at the San Diego State University in California.In her career, she was also an all-American singles and doubles player and played professionally on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour and competed in Grand Slam events.She is also the second ever women tennis president in Africa, while she was also chosen as the coach for the-16 and under junior teams by the ITF.She said the ITF described her achievements as “paving the way and opening doors for future players of Namibia and being a role model for African women tennis players”.In June this year, Nortje was assigned by the ITF to coach and work with the six best under-16 girls in the world.They were from China, Indonesia, India, the Czech Republic and Russia.”My experience working with these players will be an investment at home with my players and coaches at Pro Tennis Academy, the Young Tennis Star programme and the FNB development programme of the Namibia Tennis Association (NTA) that I am responsible for,” she said.She said it was a great privilege for her to be chosen by the ITF for the second consecutive year to work with the best under-16 players in the world.She said the players under her guidance have competed in three tournaments held in Italy in cities such as Crema, Monticatini and Milan.Her players competed at the Junior French Open and the Junior Wimbledon.