Excitement is rising as the top amateur tennis teams in the country head to Johannesburg this weekend to compete for a chance to play in the finals of the Kia Amateur Australian Open Championships.

The showdown tournament will pit the best teams from Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal against each other on November 12 and 13 at the University of Johannesburg for the right to be named South Africa’s best Amateur Tennis team.

The winner will not only have the bragging rights, but also receive a magnificent prize to represent South Africa at the Kia Amateur Australian Open in Melbourne next year, where they will compete against the best Amateur teams from 20 countries at the world-famous Rod Laver Arena in an all-expenses paid trip.

But while strutting their stuff in Melbourne is one thing, the main prize for the winners includes attending next year’s Australian open In January, where they will take front row seats for the men’s final match, where they might even be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Kia’s global tennis ambassador, Rafael Nadal.

This weekend though, the fight is on to crown the team to head to Australia in this exciting knockout tournament with some tough battles expected as the best of the best face off in a competition modeled on the Hopman Cup format.

While the Gauteng top seeds Danie Buys and Anmerie Lotz head into the finals as favourites, they can expect some tough competition from both the Pretoria pairing of Dewald Linde and Debbie van Aswegen, as well as the KZN top seeds Lance Cohen and Sarah White.  While these teams have stolen the limelight going into the tournament, Western Province top seeds Gavin Smith and Charlene Calvin should also not be written off.

Taking a leaf out of the Hopman Cup, teams will compete in a men’s and ladies singles match with a mixed doubles match available to settle matters if standings are level after the singles.  While the final is the drawcard, all teams will play off for positions on the final day of the tournament.

“I think any budding tennis player will see this as a dream come true to win this tournament,” tournament director Holger Losch believes. “To go to Australia and watch the Aussie Open and play on centre court is something most tennis players only dream of. Add to this a chance to compete against 20 countries and this is beyond the reach of most club players.

“Players in South Africa don’t get an opportunity like this often and that makes this event great.”

Kia South Africa, as the proud sponsor of the tournament, is especially excited to see the talent emerge at this tournament.

“It is amazing how much talent comes through and how competitive the competition is,” Ray Levin, Chief Executive Officer of Kia Motors South Africa said.

“Kia has always been a proud supporter of South African tennis and through a tournament like this we offer amateur players an amazing opportunity to represent their country overseas.

“We are proud to provide these talented players with the opportunity to showcase their talent and we are looking forward to another action-packed weekend as the teams vie for the title.”

The action starts on Saturday morning at the University of Johannesburg’s tennis club, with the winners being crowned on Sunday afternoon.

Kia Motors Corporation is a proud sponsor of the Australian Open.