LOCAL junior tennis players will have a rare opportunity to earn precious world ranking points on home soil after Tennis Zimbabwe was awarded the right to host three International Tennis Federation (ITF) junior tennis tournaments from July 28 to August 15. DANIEL NHAKANISO SPORTS REPORTER
The three ITF Grade 4 tournaments form part of the ITF’s Junior Circuit and are expected to attract top junior players from all over the world aged 18 and below.
Tennis Zimbabwe administrator Cliff Nhokwara said the tournament presented a wonderful opportunity for local players to rake up crucial world ranking points as they would be playing in familiar surroundings.
“It will definitely be an opportunity for our junior players to garner the much sought for world ranking points. Our players travel all over the world in search of tournaments which offer these rankings points, but now they will get them on their home soil. In addition they would not only have just one chance, but a total of three which is a wonderful opportunity,” he said.
The first of the back-to-back tournaments will run from July 28 to August 2 at the Tennis Zimbabwe Centre at Harare Sports Club before the second leg takes place at the same venue from August 4 to 9.
Local junior players will have another chance to impress and garner points in the third and final leg of the high-profile tournaments to run from August 11 to 15.
Last year Zimbabwe hosted two back-to-back ITF Junior Circuit in August with players from all over the world taking part. Nhokwara believes the fact that they have been given another tournament was a huge vote of confidence for local tennis.
“This shows that international players are happy with our facilities and are most likely to return again this year. If I’m not mistaken we are probably the only country in Southern Africa which will be hosting three consecutive ITF Junior Circuit tournaments this year,” Nhokwara added.
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The country’s leading junior players Nicole Dzenga, Courtney Lock, Tadiwa Chinamo together with Mark Chigahadzira and Keith Wakatama are expected to carry Zimbabwe’s hopes in the three tournaments.
Dzenga did well last time, winning the doubles title and reaching the final in the girls’ singles competition while Lock won the doubles title in one of the legs.
