SA padel pro relishing test against international stars at Pretoria P1

Van Harte, a former junior national tennis star, is among a rising crop of players that have transitioned to padel, and is now making a rapid rise in the budding sport in the country.

As one of the top-ranked players in SA, the 25-year-old will get to test himself against some of the world's best at the Premier Padel Pretoria P1 event at SunBet Arena in July, and he is also excited to play in front of an expected packed crowd.

"You know what, what we can expect is that there will be a lot of support, just from the spectator side. You know the sport is so popular. I'm sure you've seen some of the stats come out that South Africa is really, really driving the sport. So, I think the support will be immense,” van Harte said. 

“As far as a player I'm just kind of taking the moment in, I don't expect too much out of it but hoping to compete and do my best."

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With four years' worth of experience in the enclosed court, van Harte has previously featured on the International Padel Federation circuit and reached the Round of 16 at the FIP Bronze Indonesia II in Bali last year.

"No, this will be my first but I have played FIPs which is kind of just below the premier panel level. The FIB is the International Padel Federation so I have played a couple of those tournaments internationally, so I do have experience there but as far as Premier Padel, this will be my first,” he added.