Top seed Muswere crashes out of Harare Open

Harare Sports Club, Alex Sports Club, Prince Edward and Old Hararians.
Muswere was the biggest casualty of the opening day when Mukome beat him in straight sets 6-2, 7-5 at Harare Sports Club.
Second seed Taremeredzwa Mariga beat Takudzwa Tsapayi 6-2, 6-0 while third seed Kuzivakwashe Zvamada went down to Alywn Mushonga 3-6, 1-6.
Nigel Muvuti overpowered Michael Mandingwa 7-6, 6-1. Muvuti went on to defeat Simba Mtetwa 6-1, 6-4 in the second match.
In the girls section Michaela Baker who came in as the favourite beat Chloe O’Connor 6-3, 6-3 before she lost to Tembela Ndlovu 6-2, 6-2 in the second round
In the 16-and-under boys top seed Ngoni Makambwa outclassed Alex Dore 6-2, 6-0 in his first match. He went on to beat Shingi Kamucheka 6-2, 6-3.
Tonderai Tapfuma was in top form as he outclassed Joshua Banza 6-0, 6-0 in his first encounter in the court before thrashing Anesu Bwakura 6-0, 6-0.
Tatenda Murape upstaged third seed Munashe Chingono when posting a 7-5, 6-2, 11-9 win but fourth seed Michael Gutu won all his matches after beating Panashe Mudondo 6-1, 6-3 and Panashe Njopera 6-4, 6-1.
Number one seed in the girls’ category, Latifah Yasini beat Kimberly Bhunu 6-1, 6-1 and was upset by third seed Tariro Dembo who beat her 6-2, 6-0.
Zarah Finnigan beat Botswana based Tinaye Muzenyi 6-0, 6-1 before she lost to Rumbidzai Ugaro 6-3, 3-6, 5-7.
Harare tennis board member for development, Nesbert Chirewa said the tournament started on a high note with the players displaying a higher level of competition besides a few withdrawing from the tournament.
“The whole idea is development. We want the kids to play as many games as they can so we have changed the format to round robin so at least each players plays five matches.
“We already have upsets with some players moving from the Under-14 to compete in the Under-16 age group. We have Rumbi Ugaro who is based in South Africa and her age group is the Under-14 but she is competing in the Under-16 and has caused an upset. That is good competition,” said Chirewa.