Zim to host ITF tennis tourney

Sport
TENNIS Zimbabwe is set to host an International Tennis Federation (ITF) Under-18 tournament in Harare this month.

TENNIS Zimbabwe is set to host an International Tennis Federation (ITF) Under-18 tournament in Harare this month.

By Our staff

The tournament, which will be held at Harare Sports Club, is scheduled to run from July 26 to August 15.

Participants to this tournament will be drawn from all over the world with countries like India, Russia, Poland, Germany, Belgium and France having confirmed participation.

Junior players with ages ranging from 13 to 18 are eligible to participate in this tournament.

According to Tennis Zimbabwe spokesperson Cliff Nhokwara, preparations to host the event have been going well so far.

“Let the games begin. We have been busy preparing for this event. What is left now is for us to receive the equipment that was sent to us by ITF and we hope to have the equipment soon,” Nhokwara said.

Nhokwara said in the boys’ singles, 48 qualifying matches would be played with 24 sets being played in the doubles category while the main draw would see 48 matches played.

In the girls’ singles category, 32 qualifying matches will be played, 16 in the doubles and 32 in the main draw.

Nhokwara said players needed to gain as many points as possible for them to be able to move to the next challenge.

“If players garner enough points, at the end of the year, some of them get junior wild cards to participate at grand stages such as the Grand Slam. A good example is Nick Kyrgios, an Australian teenager who stunned world number one Rafael Nadal in four extraordinary sets to reach the quarter-finals on his Wimbledon debut. The points can also help those who harbour chances of getting scholarships in other countries like the US,” Nhokwara said.