Mayo tennis star guns for glory in South Africa tournament

A Mayo tennis teenage sensation is set to take his next step on his mission to make it to the top of the sport tomorrow (Thursday, September 11).

Westport native Eoghan Jennings has already shown his pedigree on many stages. On Saturday, August 23, he won big at the National Junior Lawn Tennis Champions.

The 16-year-old rising Irish tennis star Eoghan Jennings produced a sensational performance today at the prestigious J200 tournament in Pretoria, overcoming the World No. 57 junior in a thrilling quarter-final clash.

In a rollercoaster battle, Jennings 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.

But in a remarkable show of resilience, Jennings dug deep, held serve, and completely turned the momentum. From 1–3 down, he 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."