adminNgqwele Dube Sports Correspondent
THE Bulawayo Tennis Open has this year been hit by low entries with few participants from other provinces despite a contingent from Botswana. Tournament director Raggs Chikunichawa said they had just above 60 entries with most being players from the province. The Bulawayo Open, which kicked off on Friday, usually attracts more than 120 players.
However, Chikunichawa said the tourney was progressing well despite having fewer players.
“Although we would have wanted more players from across the country we have to make do with those who registered. However, we have 12 players who came in from Botswana and they are adding a different flavour to the competition,” he said.
More players were expected as points earned during the tournament are factored into the national rankings.
The annual tourney kicked off on Friday at Girls College as Bulawayo Athletic Club, which is the traditional venue, is undergoing renovations in preparation for the African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Games scheduled for December.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Tennis Board chairman Zeb Mawisire said they were obviously miffed by the low turnout but he was happy with the standard of play exhibited at the tournament. Mawisire blamed the change of dates for the tournament for the low turnout saying the tourney was usually held at the beginning of the school holidays but had to be moved because Tennis Zimbabwe was hosting an International Tennis Federation Under-18 South Central African Junior Circuit.
“I think change of dates could have impacted on the turnout because we are in the middle of the holidays and people are used to having it at the beginning. We have a few players from Harare and one from Mutare but I am glad we have players from Botswana.
“The visitors have always attended our tournaments and we are grateful for their presence as it adds to the competition. We have a sound relationship with Botswana tennis players and officials as they always grace our tournaments and we also make efforts to attend theirs,” said Mawisire, adding that the standard of play was impressive and he felt local players were improving and could be challenging for national honours soon.
The finals of the tournament will be held today.
The Bulawayo Open will be followed by the fifth edition of the Tarryn-Leigh de Souza Memorial which starts tomorrow. Players can also earn national points from the De Souza tourney, which is meant to celebrate the life of one of the best players to come out of Bulawayo who died in 2009 due to heart failure.
De Souza represented Matabeleland and Zimbabwe in a number of tournaments at the age of 18 when she was ranked third in the country.
She won a scholarship to play and study at Oklahoma Christian University in the US in 2003.
Results
Under 12
Lindo Tanhaka beat Nicole Madadangowe 6-3, 6-3.
Clare Machisa beat Munashe Shoko 6-0, 6-1.
Nicole Matukutire beat Sarah Zhou 6-0-6-3.
Lindo Tanhaka beat Nicole Matukutire 6-0, 6-0.
Ruvarashe Shoko beat Sarah Zhou 6-2, 7-5.
Under 12 Boys
Denzel Seetso beat Bukhosi Moyo 7-5, 6-2.
Denzel Seetso beat Nyasha Mushanga 6-0, 6-0.
Under 10 (Green ball) 1 Set
Takura Mhwandagara beat Mengesi Sibanda 6-0
Takura Mhwandagara beat Brandon Banda 6-1
Takura Mhwandagara beat Keith Banda 6-0
Lesesi Raguin beat Takura Mhwandagara 6-4
Owen Chitiyo beat Bukhosi Moyo 6-0, 6-1.
Mengesi Sibanda beat Brandon Banda 6-0, 6-2.
Under 14 Girls
Thabisile Dube beat Zandile Mnguni 6-2, 6-2.
Takudzwa Mari beat Lynette Phiri 6-1, 6-2.
Under 18 Girls
Rumbidzai Paguwa beat Rumbidzai Makwamure 6-1, 6-2
Rumbidzai Paguwa beat Nicole Chigwada 6-3, 6-0.
Rutendo Makamure beat Nicole Chigwada 6-0, 6-2.
Lorraine Ndiweni beat Nora Tagwineyi 6-2, 4-6, 10-8.
Online Reporter