Chronicle Editor
Brandon Moyo, [email protected]
BUDDING tennis stars, Felix Tazvivinga and Tanatswa Tanyongana reigned supreme at the 2023 Zimbabwe Closed tennis championship which ended at Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC) Courts yesterday.
The youngsters were the two biggest winners in one of the most prominent tennis tournaments in Zimbabwe.
Tazvivinga won the Under-18 boys’ category while Tanyongana scooped the Under-18 girls’ event. It was a befitting final in the boys’ Under-18 event when Tazvivinga went up against Mandisi Moyo, a game the former won 2-1. Tazvivinga was the better of the two promising stars, playing with variations while Moyo fell for the trap.
The eventual winner, Tazvivinga took the first set 6-2 before Moyo came back in the second set to win 6-4. With everything to play for in the third set, it was Tazvivinga who proved strong for Moyo, convincingly winning 6-1 to claim the top prize on the day while Moyo had to settle for silver medal.
In the Under-18 girls’ event, Tanyongana was crowned champion as she was uncontested and was the only one in that category. However, in the Under-16 girls’ event, there was competition and Pamela Moyo was crowned champion after a 2-0 in over Mitchel Khanye in the final. The young Moyo scooped the top prize after set scores of 6-3 and 6-4. The boys’ event was won by Makanaka Whata after defeating Morgan Mkwamla in the final.
In the boys’ Under-14 age group, Isaac Nyoni took home the gold medal after a 2-0 win over Courage Ndhlovu. Nyoni won the game with set scores of 6-3 and 6-4. Another rising star in the courts in Bulawayo, Simphiwe Malunguza took home the gold medal in the girls’ Under-14 event.
Zimbabwe Closed Full winners list
Red Ball Girls: Nandipa Mangungula (number one), Nicky Mashora (number two), Lerato Ndebele (number three)
Red Ball Boys: Sabelo Moyo (number one), Blessing Saravoye (number two), Eli Mhlanga (number three)
Orange Ball girls: Padingani Allegra (number one), Tesia Sithole (number two), Tanatswa Marime (number three)
Orange Ball boys: Tafadzwa Chanaiwa (number one), Idel Chinyenye (number two), Jumani Chikomborero (number three)
Green Ball girls: Princess Dube (number one), Danica Tverdon (number two), Tawana Chingozo (number three)
Green Ball boys: Lethukuthula Dube (number one), Indiphile Moyo (number two), Keane Chingwa (number three)
Under-12 girls: Claire Majeye (number one), Passion Chigumira (number two), Tanya Chinyemba (number three)
Under-12 boys: Muchengeti Mandzungu (number one), Munenyasha Mhlanga (number two), Tanatswa Magoronga (number three)
Under-14 girls: Simphiwe Malunguza (number one), Tanaka Mhlanga (number two), Akeelah Khanye (number three)
Under-14 boys: Isaac Nyoni (number one), Courage Ndhlovu (number two), Bryne Dube (number three)
Under-16 girls: Pamela Moyo (number one), Mitchel Khanye (number two), Mbali Dube (number three)
Under-16 boys: Makanaka Whata (number one), Morgan Mkwamla (number two), Mwaitanyasha Mukudu (number three)
Under-18 girls: Tanatswa Tanyongana
Under-18 boys: Felix Tazvivinga (number one), Mandisi Moyo (number two) Mqondisi Sithole (number three). – @brandon_malvin
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