adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S rising female tennis player Rufaro Chirewa put up a remarkable show at the just-ended International Tennis Federation 18-and-Under Junior Circuit tournament in Kenya when she won the doubles title.
Chirewa was part of the team that represented Zimbabwe in the African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Games in December last year and won silver and bronze in the doubles and singles matches.
And last Friday Chirewa teamed up with Kenya’s Stephanie Mbaya to beat the pair of Vicky Geurinckx of Belgium and Lexie Stevens of Netherlands 3-6, 6-4 (10-6) in the ITF 18-and-Under Junior Circuit finals.
However, the 17-year-old found the going tough in the singles matches where she was dismissed by Belgium’s Victoria Kalaitzis 7-5, 6-3 in the first round of the tournament.
Chirewa is now taking part in the Nairobi International Junior Championships IV that started yesterday and had a good start in her campaign when she defeated Runa Ichinose of Japan 7-5, 6-4 to progress to the second round.
She will also fight for honours in the doubles together with Karolina Silwanowicz of Polland.
The six-day tournament will run until Saturday. Chirewa’s coach, Linsent Chitiyo, attributed her success to perseverance and added that her participation in the Region Five Under-20 Games also contributed to her improvement as she got exposed to a high level of competition.
“It’s a positive development towards her game looking at the hardwork, extra hours she has spent on the court and travelling to compete in various tournaments.
“But her participation in the Region 5 Under-20 Games has contributed immensely towards her determination and achievements,” said Chitiyo.
Other Zimbabweans competing in this tournament are Dennis Moses, who beat Cyrille Lago 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-2 in yesterday’s first round in the boys section.
The other two players Mzingaye Sibanda and Munesu Chatikobo were eliminated in the opening round.
Sibanda lost 6-1, 7-5 to Belgium’s Frederic Jacobs while Chatikobo went down to Raoul Hasselerharm 6-2, 6-2.
Online Reporter