Top seeds progress at New Winners tournament

Tennis
TOP seeds Luca Picci and Zarah Finnigan reached the semi-finals of the New Winners Tennis tournament yesterday to set up some potentially exciting match-ups

TOP seeds Luca Picci and Zarah Finnigan reached the semi-finals of the New Winners Tennis tournament yesterday to set up some potentially exciting match-ups in the semi-finals on the penultimate day of the competition at Harare Sports Club today.

DANIEL NHAKANISO SPORTS REPORTER

Picci, the top seed in the boys’ Under-18 competition was hardly troubled as he easily brushed aside the challenge of Munashe Chingono 6-0, 6-2 in the quarter-finals to set up a date with Mark Chigaazira.

Fifth seeded Chigaazira caused one of the few upsets after dumping third seed Dereck Namaya 6-2, 6-4 in an exciting quarter-final match yesterday.

The other semi-final in the boys’ Under-18 competition will see the second seed Ngoni Mukambwa taking on Michael Gutu.

Mukambwa came back from a set down to beat Brendon Lovedale 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 while Gutu stunned Wakatama 7-5, 6-2.

In the girls’ Under-18 competition, the top seed Finnigan was made to work much harder as she needed three sets to knock out Munashe Kaome courtesy of a hard fought 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 win.

Finnigan will need to be at her best when she takes on the fourth seed Rumbidzai Ugaro who beat Andrea Makamba 6-1, 6-1 in straight sets.

The second seed Latifah Yasini made light work of Amanda Khupe 6-0, 6-0 and will take on Tariro Dembo who beat Kundai Munyonga 6-2, 6-3.

More than 150 youngsters are taking part in the New Winners Tennis tournament, which is the first local tourney on the 2014 calendar and part of the development programme by Tennis Zimbabwe.

Other selected results Boys Under-14 — Audrey Kunaka beat Nicolas Maduma 6-3, 6-3, Valentine Munyaviri beat Justin Makamba 6-0, 6-3, Panashe Wakatama beat Roland Jasi 6-0, 6-0, and Jason Gaazira beat Munashe Mukome 6-0, 6-0 Girls Under-14 – Chengeto Moyana beat Tadiwa Maketo 6-0, 6-0, Natalia Antkowiak beat Fikile Mangena 6-0, 6-0, Annete Matumba beat Thandiwe Ncube 6-0, 6-2 and Nandi Manyulwa beat Ruby Rusango 6-2, 6-1