adminCool Sports Writer
Tennis players from the Under-10, Under-12, Under 14 and Under-16 age groups will be battling it out at the inaugural Baseline Tennis Academy (BTA) Open Junior Tournament that began yesterday in the capital.
The tournament which has received a thumbs up from Tennis Zimbabwe will be hosted at a dual venue in the capital, the first group will be at Mt Pleasant Sports Club and the second group at ZB Sports Club in Vainona.
The tournament organisers took advantage of the fact that most schools started their exeat weekend yesterday and the players will be free.
An official from BTA said they are hoping to use their experience from this year to host a bigger and better event next year when it becomes a national tournament.
“Next year it will become a national tournament and kids from across Zimbabwe can come and play at this tournament.
“I hope next year it will become bigger and better.
“This is our first year to host a tournament of this magnitude. So we just want to get the tournament out there to the people.
“We will be taking junior tennis online so that our players can get points and rankings. By doing this they can get recognised across Africa,” said the official.
The director of the tournament Nathan Hook is very much confident that the tournament will showcase Zimbabwean talent and it will usher many young players the opportunity to study and be confident of the game.
Hook has high hopes of turning the BTA Junior Tennis tournament into a tournament for the continent but has to cross the first hurdle first.
Some top players to watch out for at this Tournament are Clare Machisa for under-12 and Karen Machisa for under-18.
Online Reporter