WATCH: Good outing for Zimbabwe players on day three

Brandon Moyo

ZIMBABWEAN tennis players who are still part of the ongoing International Tennis Federation (ITF) Under-18 South Central tournament managed to produce good results yesterday at Bulawayo Country Club.

Day Three saw some of the Zimbabwean youngsters, both boys and girls managing to progress to the next stage of the singles and doubles events.

In the girls’ singles category, Chanelle Zhuwakini managed to win her game against Britain’s Emilia Julin with set scores of 7-6 and 6-3 while Akeelah Khanye proved strong for fellow Zimbabwean, Zahara El-Zein with scores of 6-0 and 6-0. In another Zimbabwean affair, Thandiwe Nkala won her game against Julie Tungamirai with scores of 6-2 and 6-3 before Rachel Mizha went on to win her game with set scores of 6-2 and 6-1 against France’s Elena Michel.

Rounding Zimbabwean girls’ brilliant performance in the singles, Tanaka Garikai won her match against Botswana’s Mbali Qame with set scores of 6-1 and 6-4.

In the doubles, the duo of Tanyaradzwa Midzi and Melissa Mwakha won their game against Rutendo Chirimumimba (Zimbabwe) and Rethabile Moshaoa (Botswana) with scores of 6-1 and 6-0. Tendai Makunike and Simphiwe Malunguza put up a brilliant performance to win their game against a Botswana duo of Qame and Nina Sekonopo with identical scores of 6-3 and 6-3.

Mhizha and Nkala also progressed to the next stage after a 10-5 win over Garikai and Zhuwakini. The two groups were tied after scores of 2-6 and 6-4. In the last girls doubles match, Tungamirai, who was partnered with Julin managed to win their game against El-Zein and Monique Wigoda from Israel with set scores of 6-4 and 7-5.

In the boys’ matches, Ronan Mtisi won his game against Britain’s Fox Rogers after scores of 6-2 and 6-3 while Thabani Nhokorwa beat fellow Zimbabwean, Clandestine Ndiringepi with set scores of 7-5, 6-3. Brooklyn Jumbe beat Mengezi Sibanda with scores of 6-0 and 6-1.

In the boys’ doubles, Mtisi and Sibanda proved too strong for Sofyan Elnaqa (Egypt) and Rogers with set scores of 6-3 and 6-1 while Thompson Thomu, partnered with Malta’s Forbes Hollingsworth to record set scores of 6-4 and 2-0 against a Chinese duo of Tianlin Xie and Gaxinga Zhang Lei.

Mandisi Moyo partnered with Britain Tavis Wright and won their set against a Zimbabwean duo of Ndiringepi and Whata with set scores of 6-2 and 6-4. In the last boys doubles game, Felix Tazvivinga and Tinaye Tongoona beat Reuben De Klerk (South Africa) and Hasina Ranaivo (Madagascar) with set scores of 6-2 and 7-5.

Play resumes today for the fifth day as the first leg of the flagship tournament is drawing towards the end. Bulawayo Country Club is also set to play hosts to the second leg which is scheduled for next week. The two tournaments are on Tennis Zimbabwe’s (TZ) calendar. – @brandon_malvin