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Sports Reporter
THE ITF J60 tournament got underway at Harare Sports Club with several Zimbabweans that were in action yesterday progressing to the second round.
The tournament is running until Saturday and is part of the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors.
From some of the first round matches played yesterday, Tendekai Musabaeka overcame Bradley Nyamunokora 6-1, 6-1 to pull through to the second round while Thabani Nhokwara beat fellow Zimbabwean Bryne Dube 6-1, 6-1. Musabaeka said he is expecting the competition to get tougher as they progress to the next round.
“The first round was not that hard, I was expecting it not to be very hard and the second round it’s going to be a bit tougher than the first one.
“Since it’s my first win I am kind of happy and hopefully I can carry the momentum in the next match,” said Musabaeka. Nhokwara said he is hoping for the best. “I would say it was pretty good . . . My expectations are to get more points, as many points as I can, play my best and get better and reach the best rounds I can, going beyond the first round,” said Nhokwara. Dhilan Patel also advanced to the next round when beating Bradley Gondo 6-2, 6-0, as well as Tafara Nhokwara, who beat Great Britain’s Tavis Wright 6-4, 6-3. Makanaka Whata also had a good day on court when he defeated Mqhelisi Sithole 6-4, 6-0 while Alexander Bonis beat Kudiwanashe Matambo 6-3, 6-4.
In the girls singles Tatenda Chingonzo overcame Thapelo Charehwa 6-3, 6-4 while Tinotenda Chipfakacha beat Tendai Makunike 6-0, 7-5.
Chanelle Zhuwakini also pulled through when overpowering Simphiwe Malunguza 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Most of the top players will take to the court today after getting byes in the first round. The likes of Sasha Chimedza, seeded second in the girls section, fourth seed Tadiwanashe Mauchi and Zahara El Zein got byes as well as Ronan Mtisi, Takura Mhwandagara and Thompson Thomu in the boys category.
Chimedza is currently based at the ITF Centre in Tunisia. She was part of the team that represented the country at the Billie Jean King Cup in June.
“Billie Jean King Cup was an amazing opportunity to play. It was my first time playing and coming home, playing home is always nice, (being) back in the environment that I grew up in.
“So I think it’s going to be a good tournament for me to just enjoy and have fun and inspire other kids to keep playing,” Chimedza said. El Zein, who is also set to compete in all the three events, said she is looking forward to the competition. “Two weeks (ago) I was in Kenya, I was playing a few J5s and the second tournament I won a doubles finals title. Coming from winning the doubles is really giving me confidence because I never thought I would make it that far. So it kind of raised my hope and my ego a little bit, so I can be able to play well,” said El Zein. The tournament is the first of three tournaments Tennis Zimbabwe is hosting.
Online Reporter