Ilze Hattingh is a South African tennis player. Born in Durban, Hattingh was introduced to tennis at the age of 7. On the ITF Junior Circuit, Hattingh has been ranked as high as world number 49, which she achieved in January 2013. She has held the position as South Africa's junior number one girl tennis player on multiple occasions. On the ITF Pro Circuit, Hattingh has reached one $10,000 semifinal in singles, in Potchefstroom in December 2012. She made her debut for the South Africa Fed Cup team in 2012.
Career
2013
Hattingh began her 2013 campaign with back to back junior tournaments in Australia, the Grade 1Loy Yang Power Traralgon International and the Australian Open, but lost in the first round of both. She then continued her training before resuming competitive play at three back to back Grade 2's in her home country, starting on 18 February. She reached the Semifinals of all three in singles, and claimed one doubles title alongside Madrie Le Roux. The strong performance boosted her junior ranking up to a career high of world number 49. In May, Hattingh was given a wildcard for the main draw of an ITF $50,000 pro tournament in Johannesburg, but was knocked out by eventual finalist Chanel Simmonds in round one. Hattingh returned to the Junior Circuit in June, playing a Grade 1 in Germany as the fifteenth seed. Following a bye in the first round, she reached the Semifinals with the loss of one set, and but lost to Iryna Shymanovich on 15 June for a place in the final. This is the deepest she has gone into a Grade 1 draw. Ilze then proceeded to play four more junior tournaments in Europe, including Wimbledon, but didn't achieve much success, losing in qualifying at Wimbledon and failing to reach the quarterfinals of any other tournament. At the end of the 2013 season, Hattingh competed in four consecutive pro $10,000 events in Sharm El Sheikh. As a qualifier, she reached the quarterfinals of two of the singles tournaments and was runner-up at one doubles tournament with close friend Madrie Le Roux. The professional breakthrough earned Ilze her first WTA singles and doubles rankings.
2017
Hattingh joined the Arizona State University tennis programme in the United States where she plays mainly at the Nr 2 position.