Chapepa sisters destined for greatness
. . . Alice Chapepa (right) is a proud mother and smiles as she watches her daughters Kudzai and Kuzivaishe’s tennis careers blossom
FOR rising tennis star Kuzivaishe Chapepa, what started as sibling rivalry with her elder sister Kudzai is fast turning out to be a blessing in disguise.
The 12-year-old recently finished fourth at the ITF/CAT 14-and-Under African Junior Championships in Togo. She was one of the seven players who represented the country at the continental event, finishing as Zimbabwe’s best performer.
“I would say it was a very good experience playing people from everywhere in Africa,” said Kuzivaishe. “There were very good players and I was quite inspired.”
Kuzivaishe is now looking at the people she will be playing against.
“This event was more difficult than what I am used to because it attracted all the best players,”she said.“I played almost everyone in Africa.”
Prior to that, she was ranked the Confederation of African Tennis number one player in the Under-14 category in January.
It was a huge achievement for the young player, who had won gold in the Under-14 girls’ competition at the ITF/CAT Southern African Junior Individual and Teams Championships in Namibia.
“I would say when I reached rank number one, I was happy for myself, and grateful to all the people who helped me to get there,” said Kuzivaishe. “My mom and my sister have been very supportive.
“When I entered the tournament I was really nervous because I was playing new people, and it was quite tough.”
Kuzivaishe, who started playing tennis at the age of four in Bulawayo, is based at the Curro Hazelddean High Performance Centre in South Africa, together with her sister Kudzai, whom she says is her inspiration.
“There are good coaches here in Zimbabwe, but the coaches in South Africa have given me a broader perspective of tennis,” she said. “There are more tennis players in South Africa than in Zimbabwe, so I think there are more tournaments and more competitions there.
“You get to play a lot of tournaments and train with all types of people. Back home, you play the same players and you start getting used to them.
“Training in South Africa has had a great impact on my tennis because I get to travel lots of places and at a lower expense.”
For Kuzivaishe, her sister Kudzai is the reason she got into tennis because she was the first to play the game.
“She is my inspiration as she would travel to lots of places and I would stay at home,” she said.“So, I got a little jealous. When I did start training, I enjoyed it. I always thank my sister for bringing me into tennis.”
Their move to South Africa was inspired by their love of the sport.
Kudzai said:“Like Kuziva said, she started getting jealous because I would travel around the country and she just ended up filtering in. Within no time, we ended up performing in our respective age groups.
“Now that she is turning 13, it opens up ITF doors for her and we will soon be able to play doubles together like Serena and Venus Williams. I am really looking forward to it.”
On and off the court, the family bond has grown more through tennis, as the siblings rely on each other for success.
Their mother, Alice Chapepa, brightens up when speaking about her girls.
“I have always been open-minded when it comes to careers, and viewed sport as an easy route,” she said. “There are so many opportunities that come with sport, and I have always wanted my girls to take that path. I am thankful they are doing so.”