Chronicle EditorEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
TOP seeds Alosha Chikanda and Tariro Dembo stormed into today’s semi-finals of the Zimbabwe Junior Closed tennis tournament at Harare Sports Club after they won their quarter-final matches yesterday.
Chikanda, who is seeded first in the combined 16 and 18 boys section, beat Panashe Gara 6-2, 6-4 in the quarter-finals yesterday to book a place in the last four.
The tournament began on Sunday and ends tomorrow.
Chikanda will now meet Andrew Kunaka, who prevailed over Alex Yalias 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, in a match that had to be decided in the third set.
The other semi-final match will see Richard Ngwarwi taking on Takunda Dube.
Ngwarwi overpowered Sinfree Tizora 7-5, 6-1 while Dube dismissed Munashe Mukome 6-1, 6-1 in yesterday’s matches. It was the same script in the girls section as Dembo cruised into the last four when she thumped Lilian Gondo 6-0, 6-0 in the first round.
Dembo, who is based in the United States, went on to beat Faith Ngwarwi 6-0, 6-0 in the quarter-finals.
The 18-year-old takes on Rutendo Makamure today.
Dembo said she is optimistic of defending her title as most of the top players are currently in Botswana playing for ITF points.
“This is my second tournament since I came back. I played in the Arenel tournament and I won. So far, this one is okay and I don’t think there is going to be much competition.
“First round was not bad and the second round as well. Hopefully, I am going to take this one.
“I was hoping that I would find top players in Zimbabwe when I came but I didn’t find any top players so I am only playing those that are here.
“They are playing for ITF points so maybe the level we are exhibiting is slightly lower than it should be because of their absence,” Nhokwara said.
Online Reporter