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BULAWAYO tennis enthusiasts are in for a treat today with the city set to play host to the country’s budding tennis aces who will converge for two national competitions — the Bulawayo Open and the annual Tarryn-Leigh De Souza Memorial.
The Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC), Girls College and the Bulawayo Country Club will play host to both tournaments.
The Bulawayo Open precedes the sixth edition of the Tarryn-Leigh De Souza tournament and starts this morning with its finals being played on Wednesday.
The Tarryn-Leigh De Souza Memorial competition will then roar into life on Thursday ending on Saturday.
Zenzo Ndlovu, the tournament director for both competitions said all is set for the competitions.
He added that this year’s tournament will be bigger and better as there are more entries compared to last year.
“Last year we had 64 entries for the Bulawayo Open and the Tarryn-Leigh De Souza competitions. These are some of the country’s biggest tournaments on our calendar. We’re looking to having an improved turnout,” said Ndlovu.
Botswana tennis players are expected to participate at the competitions alongside players from Masvingo, Harare and Mutare.
Bulawayo’s Kings duo of Tanaka Chabata and Rutendo Makamure won the 2014 edition of the Bulawayo Open in the boys and girls’ Under-18 respectively.
Chabata beat Tinashe Hwata 6-1, 6-2 in his last game while Rutendo got the better of her sister Rumbidzai who she overcame 6-2, 6-2.
Last year’s Bulawayo Open was hit by a low turnout compared to the 2013 edition which had 120 participants.
Save for the boys’ Under-14 competition which was won by Ethan Sibanda who beat Taona Mhwandagara 6-3, 6-1 in the final, the rest of the games at the Bulawayo Open were played in a round robin format.
Online Reporter