Mayo tennis star reaches semi-finals of prestigious South Africa event

Mayo's Eoghan Jennings, a 16-year-old tennis player with a bright future in the sport, produced a sensational performance today at the prestigious J200 tournament in Pretoria, South Africa, overcoming the world number 57 (junior) in a thrilling quarter-final clash.

In a rollercoaster battle, The Castlebar Tennis Club member took the first set 6/2 before his experienced South African opponent rallied to dominate the second, 6/1.

When Jennings fell 0–3 behind in the deciding set, it seemed the match was slipping away.

However, in a remarkable show of resilience, Jennings dug deep, held serve, and completely turned the momentum.

From 1–3 down, Jennings stormed back with powerful shot-making, firing eight winners in the final three games to clinch a dramatic 6/2, 1/6, 6/4 victory.

With this stunning win, Jennings secures a place in the semi-finals tomorrow, while also preparing for his doubles quarter-final later today.

The result marks another milestone in his journey toward his ultimate goal, competing in all four Grand Slam tournaments by 2026.

“Everyone at Castlebar Tennis Club is so proud of Eoghan’s determination and composure under pressure,” said a club spokesperson.

"This is dreamworld tennis and we can’t wait to see what he achieves next.”