Ethan Sibanda relishes return to international stage

23 May, 2021 - 00:05 0 Views
Ethan Sibanda relishes return to international stage Ethan Sibanda

The Sunday News

Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
RISING tennis ace, Ethan Sibanda (16) hopes to use next week’s International Tennis Federation 18 and under tournament in Bulawayo to rise in rankings in what will be his first tournament this year.

Sibanda has failed to attend other ITF tournaments outside the country following the expiry of his passport in 2020.

Despite having applied for the travel document last year, he is still to get it due to delays at the Registrar- General’s office.

Sibanda heads into the tournament seeded fifth and the top ranked local player despite having gone six players down on the International Tennis Federation World Junior Rankings released early this month.

“I have been training well despite not being able to travel and it feels good to be back on the international circuit.

Besides being able to rake in points, playing against international opponents is something I had been missing,” he said.

Bulawayo is set to host the two ITF under 18 tournaments with the first one beginning on 30 May. The tournaments will see young players from across the globe trooping into the city for the competitions. Sibanda had targeted making it into the top 200 this year but his slide saw him move to position 387.

At the beginning of the year the player achieved a career high of position 303 but lack of the travelling document has seen him missing several tournaments in the Southern African region. Despite the fall in rankings, Sibanda is still the top ranked Zimbabwe junior player followed by Taona Mhwandagara (18), who went 20 places up to position 680, followed by Benedict Badza (15), who went down 12 places to 903 while Takura Mhwandagara (15) slid down 15 places to 997 and Lyle Zaloumis is on 1104 after going down 15 places.

Zamani Moyo (17) moved up 101 places to 1331 with Thompson Thomu (15) at 1430, Sharne Tapera (16) is at 1501 while Bukhosi Moyo (16) and Joseph Magutshwa (15) at position 1770 and 1872 respectively.

On the girls’ rankings, Rufaro Magarira (17) is the top ranked Zimbabwean player at position 598 followed by Tadiwanashe Eunice Mauchi (14) at 863, Tanyaradzwa Midzi (14) who is ranked 965 and Sasha Chimedza (15) is at 1294. Chelsea Chakanyuka (14) moved 88 places up to occupy position 1453 while Julie Tungamirai (15) is at 1632 Tsitsi Claire Mahere (17) is at 1709, Tanatswa Musabaeka (16) is positioned 1850 with Claire Machisa (16) and Zvikomborero Mtutu (15) at 1892 and 2050 respectively.

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