The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
DOMESTIC premier junior tennis competition – The Manicaland Open – came exactly two years after it was last held, with players from different cities across the country turning Mutare Girls’ High Mantas Tennis Academy courts into a hive of activity during the three-day annual tennis fete.
Young tennis players from the red, orange, green balls, Under-12s, 14 and Under and the 18 and Under age groups from Beitbridge, Bulawayo, Masvingo, Kadoma, Harare, Marondera and the hosts city, Mutare clashed in the 2022 edition of the event.
Red ball is for players aged six and below, orange ball is for players aged between six and seven, while the green ball is those aged between eight and 10.
Mutare’s Mantas Tennis Academy administrator, Vincent Nyatoti, who is also the tournaments convener, said the turnout for the Manicaland Open was impressive.
“The turnout was so encouraging. We had players from all corners of the country from as far as Beitbridge, Bulawayo, Masvingo, Kadoma, Harare, Marondera and the hosts city, Mutare.
“The Manicaland Open Tournament started on Friday and came to an end on Sunday. We are happy to be finally back on the courts after our last competitions in 2019,” said Nyatoti.
The Manicaland Open came hard on the heels of the Mantas Tennis Open Tournament which ended last Thursday afternoon at the same courts.
Harare’s Harry Malachi won 6-1 and 6-4 in the Under-18s finals against Mutare’s Michael Happy, while an all Mantas Academy girls’ finals saw Tinotenda Chipfakacha winning the Under-18 championship 6-1 and 7-5 against Thandiwe Nkala.
Mutare Boys’ High learner, Anotida Matiza and Mutare Girls’ High’s Kupakwashe Kanyore settled for third position in the boys and girls Under-18 categories, respectively.
The Under-18 girls’ doubles combination of Ruramai Nyamakura and Kanyore won against Chipfakacha and Ruwarashe Magaraira, while Happy partnered with Matiza to beat Malachi and Tashinga Mtisi in the Under-18 doubles competition.
Mutare’s Tendekai Msabaeka beat Noah Samushonga of Bulawayo in the Under-14 boys’ singles’ finals and Tatenda Mufute settled for third position.
In the doubles category played on a round robin basis, Samushonga partnered Kudakwashe Matambo to win the Under-14 boys’ doubles contest. Emily George beat Akeela Khanye of Bulawayo 6-4, 6-1 to win the Under-14 girls singles’ competition, while Tawananyasha Musiyiwa came third.
For the Under 12 boys’ category, Muchengeti Manzungu emerged victorious, with Shawn Taberekera settling for second position, while Kevin Sarawoye came third.
Tryra Mufute beat Clare Majeye to win the Under-12 girls’ singles’ competition. The youngsters are now bracing for the ITF 18s and Under J5 competition to be held in Bulawayo this month.
