adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S top player, Courtney Lock, stormed into the semi-finals of the ongoing ITF South Central African Junior Circuit yesterday when he defeated South Africa’s Kris Van Wyk at Harare Sports Club. Lock, seeded fourth in this tournament, overpowered Van Wyk 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a tightly-contested match that could have gone either way and had to be decided in the third set.
Lock will take on top seed Orly Guy Iradukunda of Burundi today in what promises to be a thrilling encounter.
Iradukunda beat Aziz Dougaz 7-6(4), 6-0.
Lock then teamed up with Lloyd Harris for the doubles and went on to beat the pair of Sahil Gaware and Aryan Goveas 6-2, 6-3 to book their place in the semi-finals again.
The 16-year-old was impressed with yesterday’s results as it is his first time to reach the semi-finals of this event.
“It’s my first time making semi-finals of this tournament, last year I lost early and I am really happy to make the semi-finals here.
“I thought that today was a really close match, I had a few match points, he won the next game and it just got very tight but I am really happy I pulled through.
“Although I am the only Zimbabwean left there is a little bit of pressure, I really just feel it’s up to me now and I just got to do it and I am to do it for the country. I am feeling better, I am feeling good and hopefully I can win my match tomorrow (today),” said Lock.
Lock, who recently won the doubles title at the Wanderers ITF Under-18 Junior Circuit in Johannesburg, said the competition has been tough but remained optimistic as he hopes to make it to the finals.
“It’s very tough, there are a lot of foreigners here and I would still say it’s pretty much the same level with the South African tournament. I think Zimbabwe has done a good job, a lot of people have come. I think the level is pretty high.
“I feel really good, I am loving the courts and I am loving the crowd. The crowd is getting bigger everyday and hopefully I can get to the finals, try and win this tournament because I am feeling really good.
“I know the guy I am playing tomorrow and, hopefully, I can pull it through for the country,” said Lock.
The other semi-final match will feature third seed Lloyd Harris from South Africa and Ismael Mzai of Kenya who is seeded second.
Harris beat Ronzai Saurombe in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 and Mzai dismissed South Africa’s Jd Malan 6-1, 6-4 in yesterday’s quarter-finals.
In the other doubles matches played yesterday Iradukunda and Innocent Tidimane outclassed Calvin Jordaan and Van Wyk 6-1, 6-2 while Arie Rosenbaum and Tomer Shilo dismissed the pair of Christiaan La Grange and Malan 6-2, 6-0.
Dougaz partnered Gueninle Quattara to beat Alwyn Mushonga and Saurombe 6-4, 6-4.
In the girls category top seed Theresa Van Zyl of South Africa beat Rikeetha Pereira 6-2, 6-2 while Tessah Andrianjafitrimo beat Ialita Devarakonda 6-1, 6-4.
The two will meet in the semi-finals today. Mariana Humberg defeated Nadine De Villiers 6-2, 6-3 and Anna Dollar prevailed over Katie Poluta 6-4, 6-2. Andrianjafitrimo and Pereira teamed up in the doubles to beat Shrishti and Zahra Finnigan 6-1, 6-1 while Amelie Boy and Van Zyl defeated Sarah Sarjoo and Marli Van Heerden 3-6, 6-2, 10-4.
Humberg and Melissa Laing outclassed Nthabiseng Mogopodi and Patshimo Ruele 6-2, 6-0 and Huibre-Mare Botes and Louise-Mare Botes beat Dollar and Nicole Dzenga 7-6 (2), 0-6, 10-6 to proceed to the semi-finals.
Online Reporter