Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
ZIMBABWE tennis may be a long way from its glory days, but Tennis Zimbabwe acting president Glory Gijima believes the foundation for a brighter future is already being laid.
With a new generation of talented youngsters emerging through the ranks, Gijima is confident the country can rebuild its standing in international tennis and eventually return to the higher levels of the Davis Cup.
Zimbabwe’s recent campaign in the Davis Cup Africa Group IV showed both the progress being made and the challenges that still lie ahead. While the national team narrowly missed out on promotion, the performances of its young players offered encouraging signs for the future.
For Gijima, the road back to the elite levels of world tennis begins with investing in junior development and creating opportunities for young players to gain valuable international experience.
“Yes, we have it within us to climb back to the Davis Cup elite groups, especially with our juniors doing so well. We have many grassroots development programmes, starting from age groups as young as 12 and 14, right up to the Under-18s. We have been sending them to regional and international events so that we give them exposure and the required experience, so that they will be ready when the time comes.
“Most recently, our Under-14 girls were in Mozambique at a Confederation of African Tennis event and finished second behind South Africa to progress to the finals. If you look back at the Annual National Sports Awards, Ruvarashe Makunike and Sasha Chimedza emerged as big winners, as testimony to their exploits,” said Gijima.
The performances of young Zimbabwean players over the past year have certainly given Tennis Zimbabwe reason to be optimistic.
Makunike enjoyed a remarkable year, earning both the Junior Sportsperson and Junior Sportswoman of the Year awards at the Annual National Sports Awards. Her achievements also earned her a nomination for the Regional Annual Sports Awards held in Luanda, Angola.
Chimedza, meanwhile, was recognised for her outstanding performances by being crowned Sportswoman of the Year.
The success has not been limited to the girls’ game.
Young male players are also making their mark, with several beginning to knock on the door of senior international tennis.
Zamani Moyo and Sean Taruberekera were rewarded for their impressive development when they were selected for Zimbabwe’s Davis Cup squad that travelled to Kenya in June.
The pair were part of a youthful Zimbabwe team that produced several encouraging displays during the tournament.
Zimbabwe topped Group B after recording victories over Angola (2-1), the Democratic Republic of Congo (2-1) and Mozambique (3-0).
The team’s unbeaten run in the group stages raised hopes of promotion, but those hopes were dashed in the decisive promotional play-off where Zimbabwe lost 2-0 to Ghana.
The defeat means Zimbabwe will remain in Africa Group IV for the 2027 edition of the competition, while Algeria and Ghana secured the two promotion places on offer.
Despite the disappointment, Gijima believes the results should be viewed in a positive light considering the age and experience of the squad.
“I think the team did very well for such a young and inexperienced side, topping their group only to falter at the last hurdle. My hope, going forward, is that the visa issues in Canada and the United States of America get sorted soon, as we have elite players at universities who couldn’t make the trip,” said the TZ boss.
According to Gijima, the absence of some Zimbabwean players studying abroad deprived the national team of valuable experience and depth.
The country continues to produce talented players who are pursuing both academic and sporting careers in overseas universities, particularly in the United States and Canada.
Tennis Zimbabwe hopes that resolving travel and visa challenges will allow more of these players to represent the country in future international competitions.
While attention remains on the senior national team, the spotlight will soon shift back to junior competition, where many of the country’s future stars are expected to showcase their talent.
A busy period lies ahead on the domestic calendar.
The Zim Closed Open gets underway tomorrow and is expected to bring together some of the nation’s leading players.
That will be followed by the prestigious Inter-Provincials tournament in Kwekwe, which remains one of the most important events on Zimbabwe’s junior tennis calendar.
A junior international tournament is also scheduled for Harare next month, providing young local players with another opportunity to test themselves against quality opposition.
“Our Inter-Provincials remain our premier local tennis event, and will see the country’s top junior players converge in the Midlands Province for intense competition. At least five provinces — namely Harare and Bulawayo Metropolitan, Masvingo, Manicaland and hosts Midlands — are expected to send their top players,” said Gijima.
These tournaments are viewed as a critical part of Tennis Zimbabwe’s long-term strategy to rebuild the sport from the ground up.
Gijima has previously indicated that restoring Zimbabwe’s competitiveness in the Davis Cup will take time. She estimates that as many as five years may be needed to address the shortcomings that have held the country back in recent years.
The federation believes success will not come overnight, but through a structured development pathway that identifies talent early and nurtures it through the various age-group levels.
Central to that vision is the Junior Tennis Initiative, which is being rolled out in schools and universities across the country. The programme is aimed at expanding participation and ensuring more youngsters take up the sport.
At the same time, Tennis Zimbabwe is working to strengthen ties with Zimbabwean players based overseas, particularly those studying at colleges and universities in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Women’s tennis is also receiving special attention as the federation seeks to increase opportunities for young female players.
In another sign of its ambitions, Tennis Zimbabwe is understood to have submitted a bid to the International Tennis Federation to host the Billie Jean King Cup. Hosting such a prestigious event would provide local players, especially Under-18 girls, with invaluable exposure and a chance to compete at a higher level without leaving home.
For now, promotion to a higher Davis Cup tier remains out of reach.
However, with a promising crop of juniors emerging, growing investment in grassroots development and a clear long-term plan in place, Tennis Zimbabwe believes the pieces are gradually falling into place.
The road back to the top may be long, but Gijima is convinced the next generation can help lead Zimbabwean tennis out of the wilderness and back towards the heights it once enjoyed.
