adminTakudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
COURTNEY Lock crashed out of the second round of the Old Mutual Zimbabwe F2 Futures tournament at Harare Sports Club yesterday. The 18-year-old Florida State University student was beaten by Argentina’s Matias Descotte 3-6, 2-6 in the first round.
Courtney conceded defeat and said he lost to a better player.
“I did keep the ball and he played very well and it is disappointing, I should just take it up and look ahead,” said Courtney who was frustrated by some calls from the Angolan umpire.
Descotte said he was happy to progress.
“I managed to go to the net several times and my backhand was so good that I managed to keep my opponent on his toes,” Descotte said.
He will now face United States’ Tyler Hochwalt, who beat France’s Ronan Joncour 7-5, 7-6, yesterday.
Third seed Arthur Surreaux also crashed out after falling at the hands of South Africa’s Trent Botha, who came in as a wild card.
Zimbabwe now has one representative, Benjamin Lock, in the singles.
He will meet South Africa’s unseeded player Philip Franken, who beat Zimbabwe’s wild card entry Brandon Levendale 6-2, 6-4.
“I am prepared as I have managed to rest and I am now looking forward to the next game,” said Lock.
US-based Zimbabwean player Mbonisi Ndimande also made a first round exit as he was beaten 2-6, 1-6 by the tournament’s second seed, Nicolas Scholtz, of South Africa.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter