Mhere makes it three-in -a-row

Closed boys Under-18 tennis title at Harare Sports Club.
The top seed thumped Takudzwa Muswere 6-0, 6-0 in the final to clinch the title for the third consecutive year.
Mhere first won the title in 2009 and yesterday’s victory came as no surprise for the 18-year-old player who said his dominance in the championships is a result of some hard work and experience as he had played most of the players before.
“I have now retained the title for three consecutive years but that doesn’t mean that there were no good players who were playing in this competition.
“I feel great to win this tournament again because it is always good to keep winning and retaining the titles,” said Mhere.
Mhere, however, urged sponsors to come on board and support the local junior tennis players.
“There is need for sponsors to support tennis because it is really hard to fund yourself and that is why most of the guys end up as coaches,” said Mhere.
In the girls category, Pauline Chawafambira scooped the title after beating Vimbai Ugaro 6-4, 7-6 (12-13), 7-5 in a tightly contested-match.
“I am now going to try to win the ITF (junior) tournaments to get more points,” said Chawafambira.
In the boys Under-16 final, Ronzai Saurombe beat Taremeredzwa Mariga 7-5, 7-5 while Lorraine Mandingwa outclassed Thandiwe Maglisi 6-1, 6-0 in the girls section.
Alywin Mushonga beat Tadiwa Chinamo 7-5, 6-0 in the boys Under-14 final and he was emulated by Karen Muswere who won the girls’ title after outclassing Tariro Dembo 6-1, 6-2.
Mehluli Sibanda won the boys Under-12 boys title after posting a straightforward 6-4, 6-0 victory over Richard Ngwari while Tanyaradzwa Magunje beat Beverly Matsiwe 6-1, 6-1 in the girls final.
In the boys’ Under-18 doubles final, Mhere teamed-up with Tinotenda Alufeyo to beat Takudzwa Muswere and Johannes Artzinger 6-4, 6-1.
The boys Under-16 doubles title went to Saurombe and Mariga who defeated Tadiwa Mberi and Michael Mandingwa 6-3, 6-1 in the final.
Lorraine Mandingwa and Melissa Kupe thrashed Vongai Sigauke and Ruvimbo Samanga 6-1, 6-2 to walk away with the girls Under-16 doubles crown. The pair of Mushonga and Keith Mwashita beat Ngoni Mukambwa and Tonderai Tapfuma 7-5, 6-2 in the boys Under-14 doubles final.
In the girls Under-14 doubles final, Muswere teamed-up with Latifah Yasini to beat Dembo and Zarah Finnigan 7-6, 6-3.
In the boys Under-12 doubles final, Ngwari and Batsirai Saurombe beat Bongani Sibanda and Mehluli Sibanda 2-6, 7-5 (13-11) while Danai Chinamo and Kundai Manyonga overpowered Renata Zulu and Takudzwa Magunje 6-3, 6-2 to clinch the girls title.

Tournament convener, Simon Dzeke, said they were impressed by the quality of play displayed by the young players.

“The level of competition was high. This tournament is very important because it has the highest number of points which are used for the selection of players for national duties,” said Dzeke.
The winners received certificates for their efforts.