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Nkosilathi Sibanda Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE seem to be struggling to get over South Africa’s dominance in tennis, having lost gold in the singles and now settling for second best in the team events.

Team events in tennis refer to matches in which players compete to win the tournament for their team.

Although Valeria Bhunu added gold and Ronzai Saurombe a silver on the team event singles category, it looked pretty simple that Zimbabwe will have to pull up the strings to unseat South Africa at pole position.

Again, the rains had to call an abrupt end to the matches at Bulawayo Athletic Club, much to the disappointment of players from both countries who had wanted to put a nail to this tournament yesterday.

Team Zimbabwe and South Africa emerged as the leading sides and as such earned valuable points to compete against each other for the top honour – the overall best in the ongoing African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games.

Having collected three gold medals, South Africa had the highest points while the host came second and were the likely contenders for the top performing team in the region.

First to enter the court was Zimbabwe’s Ronzai Saurombe up against singles gold medallist South African Francois Kellerman. The two met for the second time in a singles encounter with Kellerman getting the better of Saurombe 6-2, 2-6, 6-2.

The Zimbabwean, it would seem, did not master the South Africans’ strength and failed to exploit on their second meet.

At once Saurombe did beat Kellerman in the second set, but the going got tougher in the last set as light showers fell.

Taremedzwa Mariga invited South African Musawenkosi Mpondi but faltered 7-6, 4-6, 7-6.

Gold medallist Bhunu came to the rescue of the hosts in her clash with South Africa’s Kate Poluta. Her biggest letdown was with the serves. She once more could not hit the ball hard and high up.

Bhunu outclassed Poluta in three sets 6-7, 6-0, 6-4.

Another hurdle for Zimbabwe in team events was when Rufaro Chirewa met South Africa girls’ ace Caitlin Herb.

Herb won 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 and was the cork that put a stop to Zimbabwe’s campaign for the gold in the opening singles encounter earlier in the week.

As the rains continued, the tournament referee had to put a halt for the Games to commence this morning.

According to initial schedule, all tennis matches should have ended on Thursday, but nature took course.

As it stands, South Africa is leading with six gold medals. Zimbabwe is still at second place with two gold and four silver medals.

Today the Games wrap up with the team event pitting Zimbabwe and South Africa in the doubles.

Team event Results

Boys singles: F Kellerman (SA) beat R Saurombe (Zim) 6-2, 2-6, 6-2; M Mpondi (SA) beat T Mariga (Zim) 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 (South Africa won 2-0)

Girls: V Bhunu beat K Poluta 6-7, 6-0, 6-4; C Herb beat R Chirewa 6-3, 3-6