J30 Bulawayo Circuit second leg off to good start

ORGANISERS of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) South Central J30 Bulawayo Circuit are confident that Zimbabwean juniors will go all the way in the second leg of the event, which is taking place at Bulawayo Country Club.

The tournament, which has attracted players from over 15 countries from across the globe, started on Monday and is set to conclude on Saturday.

Tournament director, Tarwirwa “Raggs” Chikunichawa said there was a slight increase in participation for the second leg of the tournament and they were confident that local players will once again come to the party. He said he was impressed by the growth trajectory of the tournament.

This comes after the success of Zarah El-zein and Ronan Mtisi in the first leg. The two Zimbabwean stars won the girls and boys singles categories respectively.

“We have 16 countries that are participating in this event and these include Australia, USA, United Kingdom, Israel, Ukraine and our circuit countries, Botswana, South Africa and Namibia. Each year, the tournament keeps growing, we are also becoming a good destination for most of the European countries and that also spices up our event as our locals get the chance to get international flavour. We are trying to work on more collaborations with these European countries to keep growing the game in Bulawayo,” said Chikunichawa

Boys Singles Results First Round:

Rishi Ragav Janakaraj (India) beat Clandestine Ndiringepi (Zimbabwe) 2-0 (6-2; 7-5), Mandisi Moyo (Zimbabwe) beat Kudiwanashe Matambo (Zimbabwe) 2-1 (6-2; 4-6; 6-3), Maqhawe Qame (Botswana) beat Zanenkosi Nkomo (Zimbabwe) 2-0 (7-6{7}; 6-2), Tshepang Maisela (South Africa) beat Bradley Nyamunokora (Zimbabwe) 2-0 (6-1; 6-1), Om Chinnaswamy (Australia) beat Akshat Chelimela (India) 2-0 (6-0; 6-2), Alexzander Petrov (South Africa) beat Mwaitanyasha Mukudu (Zimbabwe) 2-0 (6-0; 6-1), Bryne Dube (Zimbabwe) beat Tinotenda Gotosa (USA) 2-0 (6-2; 6-0), Cuan Western (South Africa) beat Myles Murindagomo (Zimbabwe) 2-0 (6-1; 6-0), Israel Dowie (Namibia) beat Makanaka Whata (Zimbabwe) 2-0 (6-4; 6-0), Niklas Duesterer (Germany) beat Muchengeti Manzungu (Zimbabwe) 2-0 (6-1; 6-0), Dev Patel (India) beat Tendekai Musabaeka (Zimbabwe) 2-0 (6-1; 6-0), Dehan Van Deventer (South Africa) beat Noah Samushonga (Zimbabwe) 2-0 (6-2; 6-1), Oluhle Senti (South Africa) beat Isaac Nyoni (Zimbabwe) 2-0 (6-0; 6-4), Mqhelisi Sithole (Zimbabwe) beat Guo Jiaming (China) 2-1 (6-4; 4-6; 7-6), Saatvik Ashwin (India) beat Abbas Mohamed (USA) 2-0 (6-0; 6-3), Ronan Mtisi (Zimbabwe) beat Hlumani Kekana (South Africa) 2-0 (6-4; 6-1)

Girls Singles First Round Results:

Kudzai Chapepa (Zimbabwe) beat Amit Avgi (Israel) 2-0 (6-1; 6-3), Lindsey Phillips (South Africa) beat Rutendo Mavhenyengwa (Zimbabwe) 2-0 (6-2; 6-1), Xington Jiang (China) beat Zvikomborero Mtutu (Zimbabwe) 2-0 (6-0; 6-3), Abigail Rosenski (Israel) beat Chantelle Chinyanga (Zimbabwe) 2-0 (6-1; 6-2), Tinotenda Chipfakacha (Zimbabwe) beat Aashnika Kasturi (Australia) 2-0 (6-1; 6-2), Anya Taylor (Australia) beat Akeelah Khanye (Zimbabwe) 2-0 (6-1; 6-1), Rethabile Moshaoa (Botswana) beat Kayla Ben (Zimbabwe) 2-0 (6-3; 6-3), Eden Sarely (Israel) beat Ruvarashe Magarira (Zimbabwe) 2-0 (6-4; 6-4), Simphiwe Malunguza (Zimbabwe) beat Mila Niv (Israel) 2-0 (6-4; 6-4), Tendai Makunike (Zimbabwe) beat Kagello Malumo (Botswana) 2-0 (6-1; 6-0), Tatum Venter (Switzerland) beat Regina Zibowa (Zimbabwe) 2-0 (6-0; 6-2), Milan Swanepoel (South Africa) beat Minenhle Moyo (Zimbabwe) 2-0 (6-0; 6-3), Taylor Burke (Australia) beat Thandiwe Nkala (Zimbabwe) 2-0 (6-1; 6-1), Caressa Jackson (New Zealand) beat Mbali Qame (Botswan) 2-1 (2-6; 6-3; 6-1), Karolina Kostiukova (Ukraine) beat Tatenda Chingonzo (Zimbabwe) 2-0 (6-1; 6-0), Zahara El-zein (Zimbabwe) beat Lian Grunspan (Israel) 2-0 (6-1; 6-1). – @brandon_malvin