Story by Mthokozisi Dube
BUDDING Zimbabwean tennis players are slowly improving at the International Tennis Federation J5 tournament underway in Bulawayo, with eight players having qualified for the round of 16 in the second leg of the tournament.
After a not-so-convincing start to the tournament where only three players qualified for the first leg round of 16, Zimbabwean tennis players compensated for lost form by improving in the second leg of the tournament with eight making the cut.
Tennis Zimbabwe convenor, Thesly Mufunda took positives from the tournament, which is helping prepare junior players for the Africa Junior Zonal championships set for January.
“Our players are slowly warming up after the first leg below par performance. This shows that by holding more of these tournaments, our players may improve. We are also using the tournaments to prepare for the Africa junior championships,” he said.
In matches played this Wednesday, Marko Milosavljevic beat Hasina Mathieu of Madagascar 6-2 6-1, while Ronan Mtisi beat France’s s Cyriac Cayuela 6-2, 6-3.
Thompson Thomu beat South Africa’s John Bothma 6-4, 6-4.
