Chronicle Editor
Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
LUCA Picci continued with his fine run in the ongoing Arenel Wimbledon Harare Junior Tennis Open tournament to book his place in today’s boys’ Under-18 finals when he beat Keith Wakatama in the semi-finals at St George’s College yesterday.The top seed overpowered Wakatama 7-6 (4), 7-6(0) in a closely contested match that could have gone either way.
And it will be a battle of the top seeds when Picci takes on second seed Michael Gutu in the final this morning. Gutu beat Derick Namaya 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-3 in the other semi-final.
While the top players in the boys section lived up to the billing, it was a different case in the girls section with 13-year-old Beverly Matsiwe upsetting top seed Rufaro Chirewa 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 at Old Hararians.
Matsiwe, who had lost the first set, turned the tables in the second set and went on to win the third set to proceed to today’s finals.
Matsiwe takes on Tariro Dembo, who beat Rumbidzai Ugaro 6-2, 6-4, to book her place in the final.
Ugaro had defeated defending champion, Zahra Finnigan 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 in the quarter-finals. Matsiwe was excited with her victory and said it has boosted her confidence ahead of today’s finals.
“It was tough but I managed to win and it has boosted my confidence. I think I will win because the last time I played I won. The matches were getting tough as we progressed but my coaches and my colleagues were motivating me and I was also motivating myself and I managed to win. I am proud of myself,” said Matsiwe.
Her counterpart, Dembo, believes it’s going to be a tough match despite the fact that she is the favourite player going into today’s final.
“It’s not about the age, what matters is how she plays. She is a good player but I just have to prepare myself. The level of competition has been tough but you just have to pull yourself. Tomorrow I have to be ready because it’s not going to be easy I have to work hard for me to win,” said Dembo.
In the boys’ Under-14 Valentine Munyawiri overpowered Munyasha Mukome 7-5, 6-2 while Brett Hounsell dismissed Anesu Kwirirai 6-2, 6-1.
Munyawiri and Hounsell meet in the finals. Annette Matumba beat Natalia Antkowiak 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 in the girls category and Nandi Munyulwa defeated Zandile Mguni 6-0, 6-3.
Matumba and Munyulwa will fight for honours in the finals.
Andrew Chigaazira cruised to the finals when he won his match against Francesco Bravo who retired in the second set due to an injury with Chigaazira leading 6-0, 4-0.
Chigaazira will play Ethan Sibanda who overpowered Taona Muhwandagara 6-2, 6-4 in the other match. The girls’ section will see Vimbai Moyo taking on Vimbainashe Nengu.
Moyo beat Claire Machisa 6-4, 7-6(3) while Nengu overpowered Ruvarashe Shoko 6-1, 7-6.
All today’s matches will be played at Harare Sports Club.
Online Reporter