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Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
RISING tennis ace, Ethan Sibanda showed his immense potential as he carved his own piece of history after making it to the second round of the International Tennis Federation Futures tournament that is being held in Harare.
At 15 years, Sibanda became the youngest local player to win a match at a futures event after being given a wild card entry into the qualifiers.
The Bulawayo-based player managed to beat two Indian players, Rishabdev Raman (6-0, 6-3) and Babji Atturu (6-2, 6-1) in the qualifying rounds to make it into the main draw.
In the main draw he took on 18-year-old South African, Pierre Malan whom he brushed aside 6-1, 6-4 but his fairy tale run came to a halt on Thursday in the second round after losing to Great Britain’s 23 year old Joshua Paris 6-2, 6-3.
The tournament ends in Harare today with another starting tomorrow.
Sibanda was delighted with his run at the event saying he had not expected to make it beyond the qualifiers.
He revealed taking on Paris overwhelmed him hence he struggled against the Briton.
“I am happy with how I fared, I did not expect to go past the qualifiers, it was my first time in the futures and as the youngest player, I thought I was just going into it for the experience and did not think I would reach the main draw and win a match there.
“I think knowing my opponent had a good history and much more experienced than me got to me and I did not approach the game with the right mentality so I struggled throughout.
“There are however, a lot of positives I took from participating in the event and I hope to use these to come up with a better performance next (this) week,” said Sibanda, who turned 15 on 11 June.
Tennis Zimbabwe administrator, Cliff Nhokwara said they were impressed by Sibanda’s run, adding at his age the rising star is the first to register for the futures and win a match in the main draw.
“Winning a match at the level of the competition at such a tender age is very difficult and I do not think even the Black brothers were winning games at that level when they were 15. This highlights the potential that Ethan has and he surprised us by clinching a match in the main draw.
“His feat has inspired us to encourage other youngsters to register for next week’s futures and several have agreed to take place. Previously, teens have obviously been scared of even registering for the futures but with Ethan’s performance, many have been inspired,” he said.
Sibanda’s coach and father, Tendai Sibanda said they were encouraged by a TZ official to register Ethan for the tournament and were not expecting him to go beyond the qualifying rounds.
Online Reporter