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By Nkosilathi Sibanda
TENNIS Zimbabwe’s top seed Ronzai Saurombe had the pace, stamina and endurance that got him through to the quarter finals at the ongoing African Union Sports Council Region 5 Youth Games, which he sealed by a straight sets white wash yesterdayIn his first match Saurombe filleted South African Musawenkosi Mponde 6-3, 7-6 in a tie that lasted 33 minutes, the longest in the opening round of matches at the Bulawayo Athletics Club.
Saurombe, started off in the seething morning heat that an average player would have failed to withstand. The high temperatures in Bulawayo presented a major hurdle for other opponents as well, as shown by their game.
In the first set, Saurombe had the ball under his racket’s reach, with expert saves that Mponde could not have returned in the same pace. The young Zimbabwean posted the much needed points to supersede South Africa’s dominance on the court for the past five years of the games.
True to his form, Saurombe was fast on the ball, not at any moment did he miss a save or fail to return the ball to the opponent. The sizeable home crowd that came to support the players gave him the much needed push to perform to expectations.
However, Saurombe was understandably tentative on Friday night, soon after training, perhaps not trusting his body to cope with an envisaged lengthy contest in the scorching heat.
Another tennis ace, Valerie Bhunu proved how exceptional she can be at such high profile competitions in the girls’ category. Bhunu beat Angola’s top seed Jucelzina Mulemba 6-0, 6-0.
Bhunu is no stranger in reaching the finals both on the local and regional circuit. In the quarter final on Monday morning, the 19-year-old is surely set to cruise to the next stage.
Her jaunty mood in the interview room afterwards suggested that he was only just warming to his task.
Rufaro Chirewa, Zimbabwe’s third seed had it easy on the first day. She was awarded a walkover after Lesotho’s Mpho Kotze failed to pitch.
Zimbabwe’s fourth representative Taremedzwa Mariga made light work on Malawi’s Chpangano Sandukira. Mariga beat the Malawian in two sets 6-0, 6-0.
Linsent Chitiyo, the home team manager was upbeat saying the players’ triumph went according to plan.
“This is what we have been saying in our preparations. The goal has not been reached but we are on course to get a gold medal. For a start this was good. At least all our players got to shake off the fear as we won the opening games. This is what we all anticipated. The challenge was a tough one. It is hoped that in the quarter final stage we will improve on where we lack,” said Chitiyo.
Results:
Boys: T Mariga (Zim) beat C Sandukira 6-0, 6-0; A Vundu (Angola) beat Kukukla Motlojoa (Lesotho) 6-2, 6-2; T Theron ( Namibia) beat E Mabhechu 6-4, 0-6, 6-1;R Saurombe (Zim) beat M Mponde (SA) 6-3, 7-6; A Nahveni (Moz) beat L Lumbeta (Zam) 1-6, 6-1, 6-2) F Kellerman (SA) beat K Amon (Nam) 6-2, 6-0; L Chisoma (Mal) beat B Dosantos (Moz) 6-0, 6-0
Girls: R Chirewa (Zim) walkover on M Kotze (Les); I Longwe (Zam) beat W Kadaminanja (Mal) 6-1, 6-0; P Ruele (Bots) beat A Engena (Ang) 6-0, 6-0; P Katle (SA) beats D Dacosta (Moz) 6-0, 6-0; V Bhunu (Zim) beat J Mulemba (Ang) 6-0, 6-0.
Online Reporter