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Nkosilathi Sibanda Sports Reporter
YOUNG tennis ace Kuzivaishe Chapepa won the girls’ Under-14 International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) Southern African Junior Individual and Teams Championships title in Namibia yesterday.
Yesterday’s final pitted her against South African Jordan Edwards and she won in straight sets 6-2, 6-1.
Chapepa, who hails from Bulawayo, is ranked at second in the CAT 14 and Under circuit as at January 1.
On her road to victory in Namibia, she started off on a bye in round one and went to the second match to face Anna Chan Kwai Siong whom she beat 6-2, 6-1.
She advanced to the quarter-final stage and won 6-2, 5-7, 10-5 and then beat South African Nikilitha Ndungane 6-0, 6-2 in the semi-final.
Yesterday’s victory could not have come any sweeter for her parents.
Her father, Fradreck Chapepa told Zimpapers Sports of how proud they were.
“I am proud as a parent. Her mother is equally elated at the victory. We pray that we get support for her. We say thank you to the Sport and Recreation Commission and Tennis Zimbabwe for the support,” said Chapepa.
She trains with Curro Hazeldean Academy in South Africa during school holidays and here she is under Thesly Mufunda’s Global Athlete Performance Sports.
It was indeed a good outing for the country’s representatives at the championships, with other Bulawayo based players Courage Ndlovu and Akeelah Khanye also impressing on the court.
Ndlovu is presently ranked second in the national Under-14 table compiled by Tennis Zimbabwe, while Khanye is fourth position in the girls’ category.
Khanye lost in the third place play-off to settle for fourth in the singles contest.
She had a bye in the first round, then defeated Chrystella Rahrinjanahary of Madagascar 6-0, 6-0 and then overcame Lesotho’s Leshoele Phuthi 6-1, 6-1 to proceed to the semi-finals.
She was to meet her toughest match as she lost 6-4, 6-1 to settle for the third place play-off.
For the achievement, her father Glad Khanye said:
“The fact that she reached the semis and played the doubles means that she performed well. It was a brilliant performance. Her training was a bit compromised but, surprisingly she did well.”
In his first singles match, Ndlovu beat Kabelo Chopo of Lesotho 6-4, 6-0. He went back on court only to lose 6-4, 6-4 to Tinashe Phatshwane of Botswana
Ndlovu was to face off against Ny Avo Razafindrazka of Madagascar in a match that he won 6-3, 6-3. He again got the better of Luan Brand of Namibia, whom he beat 6-4, 6-4.
Online Reporter