adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
TOP seed in the boys Under-18s, Luca Picci, was crowned champion of the New Winners tennis tournament yesterday when he beat Ngoni Makambwa at Harare Sports Club.Picci beat second-seed Makambwa in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 to clinch this year’s title as the curtain came down on the four-day event.
“I enjoyed the match, it was a good match I want to congratulate my opponent first of all. It was quite a tough match,” said Picci.
“I played a few matches, it was quite challenging, quarter-finals up to finals were good matches and I enjoyed the tournament.”
Makambwa said although he lost he was a happy man.
“I give credit to him, he deserved to win. He played his best, I played my best and I made few mistakes and he was aggressive. I played well but I was making many unforced errors and I was not being aggressive.
“I feel happy because the whole tournament was just a tough tournament and winning matches felt good. I just enjoyed it because all of my matches I can’t say they were easy, they were tough matches but I just managed to play my best until I reached the final,” said Makambwa.
Third seed Tariro Dembo posted an upset in the girls section when she beat top seed Zarah Finnigan 6-4, 0-6, 6-3 to win the title. Dembo said the victory was a boost as she resumes playing in competitive events after taking a break last year due to her studies.
‘It was tough, I think I lost focus in the second set but I had to pull up myself in the third set. I was kind of consistent in the third set than I was in the second set.
“I am happy that I improved since I wasn’t playing tennis for the past year. I am hoping I will do my best in the next tournament. From day one it was tough because I played consistent players, tough players. They played mental games, some of them,” said Dembo.
Finnigan, who is set to leave for Kenya on January 21 for international tournaments in Nairobi before she goes for the African Junior Championships Under-18 in February, said the tournament gave her the opportunity to asses herself.
“I think because I lost in the finals it’s a good start for me because now I know I have something to work towards, like my mistakes I know what went wrong.
“So next tournament, when I play, I am not going to make the same mistakes. Even though I lost I looked at it as positive because it gives me something to work on and be hungry next time for a win,” said Finnigan.
Jason Chigaazira was the winner of the Under-14 boys after defeating Andrew Kunaka 7-6(4), 6-4 and Chengeto Moyana won the girls title when she dismissed Annette Matumba 6-0, 6-1.
In the boys Under-12, Andrew Chigaazira beat Kumail Mohamed 6-1, 6-2 to walk away with the title while Tsitsi Mahere overpowered Primrose Chayambuka 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 to be crowned the champion in the girls section.
The four-day tournament, which got underway on Tuesday, saw more than 150 players taking part in the various age-groups and Tennis Zimbabwe administrator, Cliff Nhokwara, said the turnout shows that there is potential for growth of the sport.
Doubles Final results
Boys Under-18
Shingi Kamucheka/Brendon Lovendale beat Mark Chigaazira/Alosha Chikanda 5-7, 6-2, 11-9.
Boys Under-14
Jason Chigaazira/Andrew Kunaka beat Nicolas Maduma/Valentine Munyawiri 7-5, 4-6, 10-4.
Boys Under-12
Andrew Chigaazira/Denzel Dzokamushure beat Gamu Madziyire/Taona Muhwandagara 7-6(5), 3-6, 10-7.
Girls Under-18
Zarah Finnigan/Latifah Yasini beat Munashe Kaome/Tariro Dembo 6-3, 6-4.
Girls Under-14
Chengeto Moyana/Annette Matumba beat Nandi Munyulwa/Natalia Antkowiak 6-3, 6-2.
Girls Under-12
Ruvimbo Kanyama/Primrose Chayambuka beat Tafadzwa Mateko/Grace Manyonganise 6-1, 6-0.
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