Chigaazira, Lock in last eight

ZIMBABWE’S Mark Chigaazira advanced to the quarter-finals of the ongoing International Tennis Federation Old Mutual Futures Series third tournament yesterday when he beat Cesar Testoni at Harare Sports Club.

Chigaazira put up a spirited fight to overpower Testoni 7-6(7), 3-6, 6-3 in a closely-contested match.

After taking the first set, Chigaazira dropped the second one and had to dig deep to claim the third set and win the match in 2 hours 41 minutes.

The 19-year-old bowed out in the qualifiers in the first tournament before losing in the second round during the second event when he qualified for the main draw.

This week he got a wild card into the main draw and it was a tough contest against Testoni yesterday, but Chigaazira emerged the better player.

“I think it’s a beginning of something great for me. It’s something that I have always looked up to and I was confident I would make it. So I just had to try my best.

“There is room for improvement. It was a really tough match and I think there were a lot of mind games and for me it’s still a learning process. I kept my heart going throughout the first set even when it was a bit tough,” Chigaazira said.

He is bracing up for another tough match this morning when he meets sixth seed Baptiste Crepatte, who reached the finals of the second tournament last Sunday.

Also in quarter-finals is top seed Benjamin Lock, who dismissed IsaacStoute6-2,6-0instraightsets after taking control from the onset.

“I am feeling very confident. I think I am playing well, I am relaxed, I don’t feel tired at all from last week, which is great. I have taken good care of my body lately, so I am really relaxed, I recovered well,” said Lock.

He plays fifth seed Jonathan Kanar in the quarter-finals.