BROTHERS Benjamin and Courtney Lock combined to win their fourth International Tennis Federation (ITF) Futures doubles title of the season together after rallying to clinch the $25 000 Lagos Tennis Open in the Nigeria yesterday.
by SPORTS REPORTER
The top-seeded Zimbabwean siblings, who have now six doubles titles together on the ITF Futures Circuit since 2016, were pushed to the limit by their third-seeded opponents Alexis Klegou from Benin and France’s Tom Jomby, but prevailed 3-6, 6-4, (10-7).
Yesterday’s victory took the pair’s season tally to four after their three successive doubles titles during Old Mutual-sponsored ITF Futures tournaments held at Harare Sports Club in June.
Twenty-five-year-old Benjamin, a former Florida State University student, and his younger brother Courtney (21), who graduated from the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, Arizona, won their first ITF Futures doubles title together in Maputo, Mozambique, in 2016.
Since then they have gone on to win further titles in Egypt in addition to three successive titles during the Old Mutual-sponsored tournaments on home soil in June.
In total, Benjamin has 16 career doubles and four singles titles on the ITF Futures circuit since his maiden win in 2014, while Courtney celebrated his sixth doubles victory yesterday.
The pair are expected to be part of the Zimbabwe Davis Cup team which will be hoping for another solid season early next year after reaching the second round of Europe/Africa Group II early this year.
