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Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
UNITED States of America based Zimbabwean player, Thabo Ncube clinched the International Tennis Federation 18 and under South Central Circuit Zim Leg 1 tournament when he beat compatriot Ethan Sibanda, 6-4, 6-1 in the final played at Bulawayo Country Club yesterday.
The initial stages of the first set were a tough contest with the two being tied at 4-4 but Ncube managed to win the break point and won the set.
Ncube (17) cruised into the second set dominating play to lift the trophy.
The ecstatic champion said he was elated by the win adding that he hopes to use the momentum of winning to perform well in upcoming ITF juniors’ tournaments that will be held in Botswana and Namibia next month.
“Although I know you don’t have to rely on being a top seed in a competition to expect victory, in this instance being one of the top seeds made me believe I will make it all the way.
“I’m happy with the way I played although at times I was not consistent but when I was down I managed to claw back and fight for victory,” he said.
Ncube, who was recently drafted into Zimbabwe’s Davis Cup team, said he will be around for the next three months as he takes part in tournaments in Botswana, Namibia and will also play in the Zimbabwe Futures before heading back to his base in the USA.
Ncube moved to South Africa when he was seven years old, was training at Itag Academy before moving to ProWorld Tennis Academy in the United States.
At 14 , the losing finalist, the young Sibanda exhibited grit and tenacity on the courts showing the hallmarks of a future champion by beat players older than him on his way to the final.
In the girl’s final, American Lauren Cooper beat Botswana’s Tshegofatso Tsiang 6-1, 6-0. Cooper went on to team up with compatriot Dakota Fordham to win the double after beating Zimbabwe’s Tsitsi Mahere who had teamed up with American, Victoria Sasinka.
Ncube joined up with South African, Tatenda Mutetwa to win the doubles title, beating Zimbabwean, Tinashe Taruberekera and South Africa’s Andreas Scott 6-3, 6-7 (5) (10-6).
Online Reporter