Tennis league kicks off

Tennis
THE GC Tennis Centre Senior League will get underway at the Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC) on Saturday with eight teams expected to take part.

THE GC Tennis Centre Senior League will get underway at the Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC) on Saturday with eight teams expected to take part. FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER

This year’s league will be divided into two categories, the premier league featuring participants within the age of 19 and 34 and the veterans’ league that will cater for tennis players aged 35 and over.

The premier league will also be divided into two with the A League taking semi-professional players that include regular tennis players, tournament players and coaches while the B League will attract amateurs players that will include corporate and other individuals.

Each team in the premier League will be expected to play two singles matches and one doubles match, home and away.

Veterans will only play doubles matches only with each match played on a one-set-basis, home and away.

The formats of the leagues are round-robin with teams playing each other until December to determine the winners.

Eight teams that have confirmed taking part in the league are the National University of Science and Technology, Midlands State University and Zesa Kwekwe only taking part in the premier league while GC Tennis, BAC, ZRP Fairbridge and ZRP Ross Camps will provide teams for all the three leagues.

Deloitte will only feature a veterans’ team.

League director Adam Joelson yesterday said all was in place for the competition to begin.

“Preparations for the tournament are at an advanced stage and the teams are eager to take part. We are just sprucing up the game of tennis among adults.

“The GC Tennis Centre has in the past three years been involved in developmental coaching and would like to cater for the more seasoned players.

This will be vital in encouraging our young tennis players.

We want to see a professionally administered league which in future will attract sponsors.

This league would be open to both men and women,” Joelson said.

He said normal International Tennis Federation rules will apply for the league.