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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
THE International Tennis Federation (ITF) Under-18 tournament got underway in Bulawayo yesterday with a number of local players making it to the second round of the competition.

The tournament is scheduled to run until Saturday at the Bulawayo Country Club.

Sixty-nine players from Botswana, South Africa, United States of America, Australia, Greece, India and Zimbabwe are competing in the prestigious boys’ and girls’ junior competition.

The event is an ITF world rankings tourney, which enables players to improve their rankings.

Tournament director, Cliff Nokwara, was impressed with the turnout.

“In terms of entries, we have had quite a decent response with 40 boys and 29 girls registering. I have not analysed the results as yet, but from what I have seen so far, Zimbabwe players have fared well. We hope to have a number of players going to the next round and even winning the tournament. We are pleased to play host to tournaments of this magnitude because not only do they give exposure to our players, but they also market them. This also offers players that cannot afford to play outside the country an opportunity to show their talent against international opponents on home soil,” said Nokwara.

In the boys’ singles, Farai Mareya, Munashe Murume, Thabo Ncube, Happy Michael and Bukhosi Moyo progressed to the second round after getting first round byes.

Tatenda Mukudu had it the hard way by progressing to the second round after beating fellow countryman Zamani Moyo 6-1, 2-6, 6-4.

In the girls’ singles, Zandile Mguni was first to qualify to the next round with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Lubelihle Moyo.

Kundai Manyonga also booked a slot in the second round following a 6-1, 6-2 victory over fellow Zimbabwean Ashley Dube.

First round action in the girls’ category will continue today.