Tennis players need more competitive exposure: Coach

the country is to make impact in international events.

The call comes after the country’s hopes of qualifying for the main event to be held in Prostejov, Czech Republic, from August 5 to 10, were quashed when the team lost all their matches to Madagascar, South Africa, Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt. Zimbabwe were represented by Karen Machisa, Kimberly Bhunu and Munashe Kaome.

Chitiyo said although the team members lost, they did their best as they competed with some of the continent’s best players.

“Frankly speaking I think our players did a splendid job. We competed but we didn’t compete enough for us to win matches and it all comes down to technical issues and to what competitions we are exposing our players to,” said Chitiyo. Another issue is what motivation is placed on our players as compared to their opponents.

“You will find that our competitors had pre-tournaments before the actual event, they played in competitive environment in Europe before they came back to compete in Africa.”

He said there was need to increase the level of competition in Zimbabwe and involve more players so that there is depth at all levels.

“The majority of the teams we competed with like Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco, have depth. They have players who have competed at each and every level,” said Chitiyo.

“Our competition level here in Zimbabwe is very low. All African countries that are dominating now are not doing it within Africa but they are doing it in Europe and when they come here they don’t see any competition because they know there is someone better.

“Most of the times we go to participate in South Africa and get into the quarter-finals whereas South African players are going to Europe and they had their Under-14 and Under-16 girls qualifying.” Egypt and South Africa qualified for the World Junior tennis finals while Tunisia qualified in the boys’ section.

Apart from the World Junior tennis, other countries were also fighting for places in the Junior Davis Cup and Fed Cup finals scheduled for San Luis Potosi, Mexico, from September 24 to 29.