Mufaro Mukome win U-18 boys Super Eight tennis title

yesterday.
Mukome overpowered Muvuti 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 to clinch the title. He had earlier on dismissed Johannes Atzinger 7-5, 6-0 in the semi-finals to progress to the finals.
Mukome was satisfied with his performance but said it was not his best performance.
“The match was tricky and I kind of lost hope in the first set but I believe in myself and my daddy was here watching me.
“I didn’t play well in the final . . . It was not my best  performance but from the first round I was playing well. I am happy I won and I did my father proud,” said Mukome.
The 17-year-old said tournaments such as the Super Eight will go a long way in boosting the sport locally.
“The competition was pretty high. Definitely we should have more of these tournaments and even invite international players, which will boost our development,” Mukome said.
In the girls category, the title went to Lorraine Mandingwa who beat Mutsa Chipfumbu 6-3, 6-1. Mandingwa had defeated Tafadzwa Chiridza 6-1, 5-7, 7-6 (4) in the semi-finals while Chipfumbu beat Michaela Baker 6-4, 6-4.
Ngoni Makambwa scooped the title in the boys Under-16 section from Luca Picci who retired from the match after suffering a cramp on his right leg.
Picci was leading 6-3, 4-2 but could not finish the match.
Tadiwa Chinamo dismissed Julius Mutetwa 6-0, 6-1 in the boys Under-14 section.
The two players finished on top in their pool matches to reach the finals. Karen Machisa claimed the girls title when she beat Tanaka Chakanyuka 6-2, 6-3.
In the boys Under-12 competition, Jason Chigaazira beat Valentine Munyawiri 7-5, 6-2 to walk away with the title and Kimberly Bhunu outclassed Danai Chinamo 6-0, 6-0 to claim the girls title.
Tournament director, Linsent Chitiyo, said they were happy with the quality of play displayed by the young players.
“It really lived up to expectations. Most of the matches stretched and we had a couple of guys suffering from cramp, showing the endurance that was needed for this level of competition.
“The turnout was good considering that we invited players from various provinces and they turned up for the event.
“It was very unfortunate that we had a very short space of time to run the tournament but the level of competition we have experienced was quite good.
“With such competition we see ourselves developing our players to another level because this is the exposure they have been looking for,” said Chitiyo.
Chitiyo, however, said there is need to improve the tournaments which have been spread throughout the country and each province will have the opportunity to host the tournament with Manicaland expected to host the event next month. The Super Eight event attracted 64 players from Harare, Bulawayo and Mutare. The tournament was targeting the top eight players from Under-12 to 18 and will be used for local rankings.