Chidzikwe happy with tennis tourney turnout

played on a round robin basis and Muswere beat Majaha 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 to clinch the title.
In the girls category Chloe O’Connor claimed the honours when she beat Michaela Baker 6-0, 7-6 in the final.
Defending champion Pauline Chawafambira did not take part in the event due to other commitments.
Ngoni Makambwa won the boys’ Under-16 title when he overpowered Ngoni Chiwewete 6-4, 6-1 while Latifah Yasini won in the girls’ section.
The matches had to be decided by the number of sets won by each player after it came to a three-way tie between Yasini and Rufaro Chirewa.
Mark Chigaazira dismissed Mehluli Sibanda 6-2, 6-1 to claim the title in the Boys Under-14 and Nikita Daka clinched the Girls title when she defeated Rhenata Zulu 6-2, 6-2.
In the boys’ Under-12, Tadiwa Chigaazira beat Tinashe Whata 6-2, 6-3 to be crowned champion while Beverly Matsiwe came from a set down to defeat Danai Chinamo 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the girls’ final.
For the boys’ Under-10, Simbarashe Makunike was the winner and Nicole Utsiwegota walked away with the Girls’ title as they both finished on top of their respective tables.
Tournament director, Genius Chidzikwe, was happy with the competition despite missing some of the top players.
“The turnout was good. We had over 90 entrances although we would have liked to have more players.
“A couple of players were missing, some are in Egypt and considering that we were missing the top players the competition was very good,” said Chidzikwe.
Chidzikwe said holding more local tournaments in different provinces would go a long way in improving the quality of play in the country.
“A few years ago we were struggling to have a couple of tournaments and it was difficult to get about 50 players but now the numbers have doubled and in some cases they have tripled and in that sense I think we are in the right direction.
“But in terms of competition when we start looking at how we can compare with other regions like Southern Africa and North Africa I think we now have to raise the quality of play so that we can match our counterparts like South Africa,” said Chidzikwe.