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DANGAMVURA-born Pauline “Pops” Chawafambira, who is currently playing college tennis thanks to a a four-year scholarship in America, still harbours ambitions of turning pro before her time to quit playing the game comes. The former Zimbabwe’s Under-18 number one has been competing quite well in USA college tennis, but currently nursing an injury and hopes to be back on the court by January.
Though mindful of the surmountable challenge it entails, the 20-year-old tennis sensation told The Weekender that she still relishes the opportunity of inspiring youngsters by playing professional tennis.
She hopes to make the big break by the age of 24.
“Well, I am aiming at playing professional tennis and that should be by the time I reach 24. l really wish to turn pro. Of course, there is bound to be some ups and downs on the way to turning pro. It is not going to be easy to win a single match. You just have to sweat it out to win just a single match. My main ambition is to be a better player. I always dream of turning pro one day, but what I know very well is that working towards turning pro is tough. But to me, l pretty guess l can handle that because l believe in myself and when things get tough I just have to walk on top of the situation,” she said. The talented tennis ace also reckons that footing the travelling expenses to fulfil fixtures could be a daunting challenge.
“Travelling expenses are also going to be another issue. It is obviously going to be a challenge to source enough financial resources to cover that, but where there is a will there is always a way. Hopefully I will get all the support I need from all around me. I just want to be the first girl from Mutare to play pro tennis and of course follow the footsteps on Cara Black. To me that will boost up confidence in upcoming stars from Mantas Academy.
It will obviously tell them that they can achieve anything only if they believe in themselves. I will always try to give a good performance on court because that is the way to success.
“l know there is a time when you tend to give up but that moment when you have that negative thought, things will be turning to the positive,” she added. Chawafambira confirmed that her injury is no deal breaker.
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“I was injured but it was not in a match. I was at the gym working out but I think I will be well by January,” she said.
The former Dangamvura Primary and Mutare Girls’ High student was part of the Mantas Tennis Academy for six years and has since moved to the Eastern Arizona College in the USA.
Pauline joined a host of other Mutare-born players who went through Mantas Tennis Academy and have since enrolled with different institutions of higher learning in the USA.
Takudzwa Muswere, Taremeredzwa Mariga, Sibusiso Ndimande, Glory Zhou and recently Ronzai Saurombe are some of the young players who are honing their tennis skills as well as getting academic education in the USA.
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