ZIMBABWE’s leading female tennis player Valeria Bhunu has made it to the final of the tennis competition at the 2014 African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games after outclassing South Africa’s Caitlin Herb in the semi-final at Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC) yesterday.
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However, it was a bad day for men’s top seed Ronzai Saurombe who suffered a shock 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 loss to the third seeded Malawian Lumeta Chisomo.
The top-seeded Bhunu was excited with the win and said she was looking forward to the final in which she takes on another South African Kate Poluta today.
Poluta upstaged Zimbabwean Rufaro Chirewa 6-3, 6-2 in the semi-finals yesterday.
“It was good although I struggled with my serve today,” Bhunu said.
“But generally everything went well. I am looking forward to playing in the final. I hope to do my best and see how it goes.”
She is the only Zimbabwean who has made it to the final, the only hope for gold in the singles tennis tournament.
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Saurombe was not happy with the umpire’s decisions, going straight to the changing rooms after the match.
Team Zimbabwe tennis coach Freeman Nyamunokora said he had not expected Saurombe to lose against the Malawian.
“This was the toughest match, but I didn’t expect the defeat,” he said.
“We had high hopes. We accept the match was tough, but we should have won it. Part of this goes to less time in preparations.”
Chisomo will play South African Francois Kellerman in the final today. Kellerman beat Kukutla Motlojoa of Lesotho 6-3, 6-2 in the semi-final yesterday.
The doubles competition was due to start in the afternoon.
Saurombe is paired with Taremedzwa Mariga and they were due to play Kudzai Toto and Peter Theron in the preliminary round.
Bhunu and Chirerwa were scheduled to take on Winnie Kadamanja and Zione Mkhoma of Malawi in the women’s doubles preliminaries.
