HARARE – Zimbabwean tennis players had impressive performances at the ITF tournaments held in Addis Ababa and Bulawayo from 22 to 28 May 2023.
Tennis ace Benjamin Lock clinched the men’s singles title at the Addis Ababa Challenger in Ethiopia on Sunday, after a dominant display against Rishab Agarwal of India. Lock breezed past his opponent in straight sets, 6-2 and 6-2, to claim the trophy and raise the Zimbabwean flag high.
Lock had also shown his class and skill in earlier rounds, beating tough challengers from India and Iran on the clay surface.
In Bulawayo, Zimbabwean juniors reached the finals in both boys’ and girls’ doubles ITF World Tennis Juniors J30.
Thomu Thompson and Ronan Tashinga Mtisi put up a brave fight but lost to Reuben De Klerk and John Bothma of South Africa in a close final.
Julie Tungamirai and her British partner Emilia Julin also fell short in the finals against Melissa Nanjala Mwakha of Kenya and Tamina Kockta of Germany.
Thompson, Mtisi and Hailey Banda also made it to the semi-finals in their respective singles events, but could not advance further.
They lost to South African and French players who eventually won the titles. Zahara El-Zein and Tinotenda Chipfakacha also reached the quarter-finals in the girls’ singles, but were eliminated by Israeli and German opponents.
Chipfakacha and Chanelle Zhuwakini also reached the semi-finals in the girls’ doubles, but were defeated by the eventual champions.
The Zimbabwean players showed their talent and determination at the ITF tournaments, and gave their fans a lot to cheer.
