The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
THE International Tennis Federation World Tennis tour South Central Circuit Leg 2 main tournament kicks off tomorrow, with close to 100 junior tennis players from all over the world converging at the Harare Sports Club.
Qualifiers for the tournament began yesterday (Saturday) with 32 players, a majority of them local players trying their luck to make it to the main draw.
Tennis Zimbabwe administrator, Cliff Nhokwara said the tourney is the first of three tournaments for junior players that will be held consecutively over the next three weeks.
A total of 15 Zimbabwean juniors made it into the main draws of both the boys and girls’ sections with Thabo Ncube the highest seeded players at number 10 followed by Ethan Sibanda, Tinashe Taruberekera, Farai Mareya, Anesu Kwirirai, Mikhil Raja and Zamani Moyo in the boys’ category.
In the girls’ category there is Ruvarashe Shoko, Rufaro Magarira, Vimbai Moyo, Claire Machisa, Tanyaradzwa Kaome, Tadiwanashe Mauchi, Tadisa Chamisa and Charlotte Zhuwakini featuring in the girls’ main draw.
More local players are likely to make it to the main draw if they excel in the qualifiers.
The top seeds in the boys’ section are South Africa’s Khololwam Montsi who is at number one followed by Benin’s Sylvestre Monnou, SA’s Robbie Arends, Toky Ranaivo of Madagascar and the fifth seed is Hong Kong’s Sebastian Nothhaft.
In the girls’ category, South Africa’s Delien Kleinhans is perched at the top with Egypt’s Hania Abouelsaad the second seed followed by America’s Lauren Cooper, Smriti Bhasin of India if fourth and Madagascar’s Narindra Ranaivo is the fifth seed.
Nkokwara said the three international tournaments will give the local youngsters a chance to earn ITF points.
“We will have a busy school holiday as we host the three ITF events followed by the local national championships.
“Local players will have the opportunity to amass ITF and with three events, I believe this is their chance to rise on the international rankings,” he said.
Emakhandeni Tennis Club coach, Witness Jiyane said they are looking forward to Zamani performing well at the event.
He said they have been on the courts preparing for the tournaments as he aims at getting more ITF points.
“We were fortunate that a well wisher, Samu Khumalo came to our rescue and assisted Zamani with funds to travel to Harare as we had resigned to him not taking part due to lack of funds.
“I believe he can bag some points and rise on the rankings,” said Jiyane.
Ethan’s coach and father, Tendai said the youngster is coming for two grade four tournaments in South Africa and are hoping to use the local tourneys to rise on the ITF rankings.
“The local tournaments are important because he has the home support and it is turf that he is used to so I think he can put up good performances.
“He is arriving this morning (Friday) from South Africa where he played in two tournaments and I think he is coming here geared for the event considering he is used to the venue and will have local support,” he said.
