ITF Futures events on cards

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
TENNIS Zimbabwe president Regis Bhunu says they are hoping to continue exposing local players to competition, with the association expecting to host three International Tennis Federation Futures events in June.

Bhunu said they were looking forward to hosting three $10 000 tournaments in Harare, with the first event scheduled from June 15 to 21, the second one slated for June 22 to 28 and the third one set for June 29 to July 5.

The TZ president said the tournaments were a platform for their players to gain more experience on international events and they were expecting most of the local players to take part.

“We are expecting to host three $10 000 events; it’s going to be three weeks of serious tennis.

“It’s coinciding with American Universities holidays and we are expecting more Zimbabwean players and it’s huge for them because we have wild cards which we will give for the main draw and the qualifying draw.

“So, it will give our players a lot of experience,” said Bhunu.

Zimbabwe will host Moldova in the second round of the Davis Cup Euro/Africa Group II and they need to win this tie to remain in the Group after losing the first tie 1-4 to Bosnia-Herzegovina.

If they lose they will be relegated to Africa Zone Group III.

TZ administrator Cliff Nhokwara said the Futures tournaments will be part of the Davis Cup team preparations for the crucial tie.

“Ideally it’s a warm-up for Davis Cup. These guys have to be competitive and in a way it’s part of preparations for the Davis Cup tie.

“But we are in clash with Mozambique. They have tournaments starting on June 8 and we will either go up by a week or they will go down.

“We have requested that they go down because we have Davis Cup from July 17 to 19, so we need a few days open before the tie,” said Nhokwara.

Last year TZ hosted two $15 000 tournaments sponsored by Twenty Third Century and NetOne in October.

The two events were won by Boy Westerhof of Netherlands with most Zimbabwean players failing to progress beyond the second round.