TENNIS Zimbabwe has expressed delight over the performance of the country's junior players at the regional Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) and International Tennis Federation (ITF) junior in the last few weeks.
The country's budding tennis stars participated at events in Uganda, Namibia and lately Botswana with a number of athletes scooping gold medals.
Takura Muhwandagara won the ITF J60 Under-18 Tournament hosted in Windhoek Namibia, from April 3-8, 2023.
Muhwandagara was part of the Davis Cup development squad in February and was also part of the Africa Union Sport Council Region 5 Games Tennis Team in Malawi.
Kuzivaishe Chapepa also won the ITF CAT 14 and Under Circuit Leg 1 in Uganda after beating Saraya Alia of Egypt 6-3, 7-6.
Chapepa and Emmly George won the Under-14 ladies doubles title at the ITF/CAT 14 and Under Circuit Leg 1 in Uganda, beating fellow Zimbabweans Mufaro Ruwanza and Akeelah Khanye 6-3, 6-3 in the final.
Keep Reading
- Zimbabwe to host Uruguay in Davis Cup World Group ii Playoff
- Strategic plan to revive tennis
- Zim to host ITF tourney
- Zim in disappointing start at ITF tourney
In Botswana, at the ITF J30 Under-18 Tournament last week, Tadiwanashe Mauchi and Chelsea Chakanyuka teamed up to win the final after beating Fuller Sophia and Joseph Celina(RSA) 6-4, 6-7(4), 10-6.
In a doubles boys event, Muhwandagara and Nawa Mark from Botswana also won the final against the Zimbabwean pair of Badza Benedict and Thomu Thompson after the latter retired due to an injury.
There were many other impressive results from Zimbabwean athletes across the three tournaments.
"Tennis Zimbabwe is excited about the performance of our junior teams in the last week in Uganda, Namibia and Botswana. Most of the players who excelled in the last week were part of the Zonals Competitions that we hosted in January and the other players were part of the Davis Cup Development Squad," TZ general manager Kupakwashe Mukurumbira said.
"We are excited that our long term player development strategy is starting to producing good results. We are anticipating that more positive results will be produced in the second league of the tournaments and tours our players will participate in Botswana and Kenya in the coming weeks," he added.
Benedict Badza reached the final in the Botswana tourney after he retired hurt, while losing 4-6, 1-3 against Gatoto Allan of Burundi.
Mauchi reached the final and lost 6-2, 2-6, 2-6 against South Africa’s Joseph Celina.
The previous week, Mauchi had reached the ITF J60 Under-18 Tournament semi-finals hosted by Windhoek, Namibia, from April 3-8 2023, losing 0-6, 3-6 against Kochta Tamina of Germany.