Zimbabwe junior tennis players shine

Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter

ZIMBABWE junior tennis players participating at the ongoing International Tennis Federation (ITF) South Central Circuit Zimbabwe Leg 6 Tournament which is being played at Bulawayo Country Club in Bulawayo produced good results in the second round of the tournament yesterday.

In matches played yesterday, most of the athletes from Zimbabwe won their matches, both singles and doubles events.
Joseph Magutshwa beat South Africa’s Benjamin Scott 6-0, 6-0 while his countryman, Ronan Tashinga Mtisi lost 6-1, 6-4 against Alexander Hristov from South Africa. Mandisi Moyo got the better of Valdemar Dubin from Denmark, 7-6, 6-1.

Makanaka Whata won 6-3, 6-1 against Connor Doig from South Africa and Thompson Thomu edged Britain’s Tavis Wright 6-3, 6-2. However, Austria’s Thilo Behrmann got the better of Zimbabwe’s Zanenkosi Nkomo 6-1, 6-4. In an all-Zimbabwean affair, Julie Tungamirai won 6-1, 6-0 against Zahara El Zein.

Ruvarashe Magarira won 6-2, 6-2 against Nina Sekonopo from Botswana while Chanelle Zhuwakini beat Belgium’s Romy De Baene 6-3, 6-3 and Tatenda Chingonzo edged South Africa’s Amike Botha 6-1, 6-0. Other Zimbabweans who played were Zvikomborero Teresa Chels Mtutu who won 6-0, 6-0 against Laura Valentine Pop from France, Ruvarashe Thelma Tom triumphed 6-1, 6-1 against Uta Asakura from Japan to conclude the Zimbabwean’s singles rounds.

In the doubles event, Mandisi Moyo (Zim) and Makanaka Whata (Zim) won 6-1, 4-6 against Asher Simbarashe Chimedza (Zim) and Hasina Mathieu Ranaivo from Madagascar. Tinotenda Chipfakacha (Zim)/Thandiwe Nkala (Zim) won 6-3, 6-0 against Amike Botha (RSA) and Carle Botha (RSA).

Tungamirai (Zim)/Chanelle Zhuwakini (Zim) lost 3-6, 3-6 against Rethabile Lesire Moshaoa (BOT)/Mbali Nonhle Qame (BOT). Hailey Banda (Zim)/Ruvarashe Magarira (Zim) won 6-3, 6-1 over Isabella Basson (RSA)/Koronayashe Rugara (USA).
Kagello Malumo (BOT)/Regina Nandipha Zibowa (Zim) eliminated Zimbabwean pair of Tatenda Chingonzo (ZIM)/Tawananyasha Musiyiwa (Zim) after winning 6-1 6-0. In the final match, Rudiger Dusselberg (RSA)/Alexander Hristov (RSA) won 6-2, 6-4 against Caleb Robb (Zim)/Tavis Wright (GBR).

The matches at Bulawayo Country Club are a part of the ITF World Tennis Juniors Tour, a development tour that provides players aged 18 and under the opportunity to travel the world and fine-tune their talent. The matches continue today with singles games slated to be played in the morning while doubles are scheduled for the afternoon. – @brandon_malvin