Good start for Zimbabwe players

tennis

Ellina Mhlanga, Harare Bureaur
THE third leg of the International Tennis Federation 18-and-Under South Central Circuit took off yesterday with several local players making it through to the second round at Harare Sports Club.

In the boys singles, second seed Mehluli Sibanda beat Zyaan Ahmed of Great Britain 6-3, 6-1 to progress to today’s second round.

Sibanda, who is Zimbabwe’s top player in this circuit, has had his moments, winning the first tournament before losing in the finals in the second event.

He will be out hoping for another fruitful week in a tournament that ends on Friday.

Tinashe Taruberekera also had a good start beating Germany’s Luca Hesselmann 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 and Thabo Ncube dismissed Alfred Schwieger from Namibia 7-5, 6-0.

Kimberly Bhunu dismissed Megan Lombardi 6-2, 6-3 in the girls’ singles while Beverly Matsiwe was not to be outdone as she beat Macey Miller of United States 6-4, 6-3 in straight sets.

Bhunu reached the quarter-finals of the previous event and is hoping to take it a step further as she aims to go beyond the last eight.

“I hope I get further than the quarter-finals this time and just keep focused and basically keep on going,” said Bhunu.

The France-based 16-year-old said it’s always good playing at home and will be looking for another victory today to go through to the quarter-finals.

“I guess when you play at home, it’s like there is a big crowd, everyone is cheering for you to win and it puts pressure on you. So then playing these tournaments basically helps you handle that kind of pressure that’s what I think. So it builds you mentally so that you are stronger no matter what happens.

“I hope I play good, keep consistent and make a good game plan and I want to win of course,” said Bhunu.

On the other hand Matsiwe, who had a disappointing start in the other two events, was excited after making the second round yesterday.

“It was tough but I won. The first two, the results were very disappointing. The first one I lost in the first round and the second one I lost in the qualifiers, so I am just happy I have made it into the second round.

“I know it’s going to be tough… but I know I will make it. I am hoping to reach the quarter-finals.

“The guys here are tough but I get more exposure and experience,” said Matsiwe.

It was a different story for Kimberley Kaome as she lost 1-6, 1-6 to India’s Shrivalli Bhamidipaty.

The tournament is the last of three events that have been running since July 31 and ends on Friday.

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