The Sunday News
AFTER a dismal show at the Twenty Third Century Systems Futures tournament, Zimbabwean local stars are expected to fare better at the NetOne Futures Tournament which gets underway at Harare Sports Club tomorrow.
None of the local tennis stars who entered the Twenty Third Century Systems bankrolled event which concluded at the same venue yesterday made it past the second round.
Mark Fynn, the highest ranked Zimbabwean on the International Tennis Federation Professional Circuit who took part in the tournament lost out in straight sets to tournament second seed Antal van der Duim from The Netherlands while another Zimbabwean Tinashe Chikanda also bowed out in the semi-finals to Oscar Hernandez Perez of Spain. Other Zimbabweans Martin Dzuwa, Tinotenda Chanakira and Miracle Moses Matanga were all knocked out in the first round with Matanga booted out by Fynn.
According to the NetOne Futures Tournament acceptance list, Fynn is the only Zimbabwean player who has a direct entry to the main draw. Chikanda, Liberty Nzula, Dzuwa and Chanakira are playing in the competition qualifiers for the main draw which started yesterday and ends today. From the qualifiers, eight players will join 20 direct entrants and four local wildcards to complete the main draw of 32 players.
Boy Westerhof from The Netherlands and South African Ruan Roelofse who competed in the final of the Twenty Third Century Systems Futures Tournament would be favourites again in the NetOne Futures. Van der Duim of The Netherlands and South African Tucker Vorster who lost out in the semifinals are the other players to look out for.
The NetOne Futures Tournament has a sponsorship package of $35 000 with $15 000 being set aside for prize money.
