Online Reporter
Takudzwa Chitsiga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
UNITED States based Marko Milosarljevic returned home to win the Tracy Mason Harare Open tennis tournament whose curtain came down at Harare Sports Club on Monday.
Milasarljevic managed to get the better of Rona Mtisi 6-4, 6-3 while Rufaro Magarira was crowned the women’s singles champions. Magarira managed to dismiss Chanelle Zhuwakini in the women finals 6-3, 6-2.
The tournament which was sponsored by Tracy Mason and Select Health saw over 80 players taking to the courts, along with six from Zambia.
Milosarljevic, 19, a University of Memphis student, said he is willing to play for the country at the Davis Cup.
“I am happy to be back to where it all started. I had my first tennis hit here at Harare Sports Club way back and returning home for vacation and winning such a big tournament is awesome,” he said.
“I have not been around for a while after I left the country for Serbia as a 12-year-old and coming back is good. I had a good feeling coming into this tournament and managed to do well from the start to finish. The preparations were good and I had a very strong challenge.
“I am looking forward to represent the country at any level and do well. I worked really hard for the win and I am grateful to the sponsors and organisers.”
Zoran, father to Marko, said he is happy that his son won the 2025 edition of the Tracy Mason Harare Tennis Open.
“As parents we are always supportive and I am happy that he managed to win. The games were tough but he managed to win,” said Zoran.
Harare Metropolitan Tennis Board vice chairman Crispen Chitambara said they are happy to have successfully hosted the tournament.
“The tournament went on well with over 80 players taking part and we had some foreigners taking part. We had not had the tournament for over a decade and we are happy that we managed to get a sponsor this time around and staged the tournament.
“There was a good response from the athletes and we had a good four days of tennis. The tournament went on well despite some rains that disturbed us a bit,” said Chitambara.
