Byo hosts Zim Closed Tennis

THE Zimbabwe Closed Tennis gets underway tomorrow at the Bulawayo Athletic Club with over 120 players expected to grace the country premium tennis tournament.

Bulawayo Metropolitan Tennis Board chairman Raggs Chikunichawa said the city will be holding the event after more than a decade. The competition is restricted to Zimbabwean junior players. He expressed his joy at being given the chance to host the country’s top tournament.

“We are excited the tourney is coming to Bulawayo as this will give an opportunity to our players to take part and get an opportunity to make their mark as they fight for honours against the country’s top players. The tourney also presents the players with an opportunity to rake in points in the national rankings,” he said.

Chikunichawa said they expect tough battles as the junior athletes fight to accumulate points for national rankings. He said the Zimbabwe Closed Tennis has high ranking points and naturally every player wants to get more points to be selected into the national team.

While some matches have been earmarked for BAC others will be played at Girls College. The tourney will run from tomorrow until Thursday.

It will be followed immediately by the inter-provincials on Friday and are scheduled to end next Sunday.

“We expect the same players who would have taken part on the Zimbabwe Closed Tennis to also be part of the inter-provincials, this time around, however, they will be grouped in teams representing their provinces.

“We are looking forward to another exciting tourney so it will be a full week of action in the city,” said Chikunichawa.

Meanwhile, Kudzai Chapepa emerged victorious in her second outing in Botswana when she beat Janet Morupisi 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 in the final of the Under-10 green dot ball in the Botswana Motor Centre Junior Open played at Notwane Tennis Courts in Gaborone last week.

Chapepa also clinched the doubles title after partnering Wangu Mdeleko to beat Atang Chongwe and Mary Thobokwe 6-3, 6-4. Her younger sibling, Kuzivaishe emerged fourth in the Under-10 orange ball.