Scholtz through to second Futures final

South Africa’s Nik Scholtz booked his place in his second straight Sun City Futures final when he defeated fellow countryman Ruan Roelofse, 7-6 (4) 6-1 in the semifinals.

The 23 year old, who has just returned from a US College Scholarship at the University of Mississippi, won his first title at Futures 2 a week ago and goes into Friday’s final on a nine match winning streak.

“I knew going into the match that Ruan serves big and plays his forehand well,” Scholtz said. “Ruan actually played a good game, I was just able in that tie breaker to return that much better and play his weaker back end side more.”

Scholtz will now face fellow South African and Futures 1 champion Fritz Wolmarans in the final on Friday following the latter’s 4-6 6-3 6-4 win over Sweden’s Milos Sekulic.

Wolmarans believes he will need to step up his game when he faces Nik in what will be viewed as the ultimate decider of three-part Futures tournament.

“I didn’t play a pretty match. I struggled to work a game plan against Milos, he is a tough player to read” said Wolmarans.

“On Friday it’s the big faceoff between Nik and I, both won a title here at Sun City so on court Friday the winner will take it all.”

In the women’s singles, top seed Chanel Simmonds booked her place in the final after beating Futures 2 champions Ilze Hattingh 6-4 7-5.

Simmonds will contest Friday’s final against fellow South African Madri Le Roux, who beat second seed Clothilde De Bernardi of France 5-7 6-3 6-1 in the semi-final.