Fynn comes short of experience

Fatima Bulla – Senior Sports Reporter

MARK FYNN has blamed inexperience for his poor showings during the Twenty Third Century Systems and NetOne ITF Futures Tournaments played at Harare Sports Club over the past two weeks.

The 29-year-old bowed out in the quarter-finals of the Twenty Third Century Systems tournament before being sent packing in the second round of the NetOne-sponsored competition.

On both occasions, Fynn fell to Dutchman Antal Van Der Duim, succumbing 6-3, 6-4 in the quarter final defeat and 6-3, 6-2 in the second round of the NetOne Futures Tournament last Wednesday.

“It all comes down to experience,” said the Zimbabwe Davis Cup team member.

“We are playing these guys who are seasoned veterans. They play tournaments like these week-in and week-out, while for some of us this kind of exposure comes once in a while.

“In tennis, there is such a small margin between winning and losing a match.”

Fynn’s nemesis Van Den Duim, who has an ATP singles ranking of 311 compared to the Zimbabwean’s 531, is a veteran tennis player who travels all over the world in search of points.

After his disappointing showing at home, the Turkey-based Fynn is now looking forward to making amends on the European circuit.

“I still have more tournaments all over in Europe. I should be going back to Turkey next week, train there a couple of weeks before playing more tournaments.

“I think things are shaping up and am looking forward to the rest of the year,” Fynn said.

No matter what happens between now and the end of the year, the country’s number two tennis player, after Takanyi Garanganga, has already labelled 2014 a success following the country’s promotion into the Davis Cup Euro/Africa Zone Group II.

“For us (Davis Cup team), it is a special moment since we all grew up watching Wayne and Byron Black doing the country proud in the Davis Cup. Personally, I have always wanted to serve my nation on the tennis court and I am looking forward to doing it again in Group II . . . hopefully we will get a home tie,” he said.