The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD Richard Ngwarwi eased to the Arenel Wimbledon Harare Junior Tennis Under-18 boys singles title with a straight sets victory over rival Andrew Kunaka at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
Ngwarwi, who never dropped a set throughout the tournament, clobbered Kunaka 6/3, 6/0 to claim the title.
The youngster, who also came second in the mixed doubles category where he partnered Nandi Munyulwa, said he was pleased with his performance but insisted on the need to improve, especially with the Zimbabwe Junior Closed Championship starting today at Harare Sports Club.
“I think I am playing very good, I have practiced hard,” he said. “I think I need to improve on my movements, especially on going to the net and keeping the ball in play and also reduce mistakes.
“I won the Zim Closed under 16 boys’ singles and doubles titles last year and I think I can win this year’s under-18 titles too,” said the St Dominc’s pupil of his intentions of winning the national event ending this Wednesday.
The Under-18 girls singles title went to Tariro Dembo, who trounced Tanyaradzwa Magunje 6/0, 6/0. Dembo also won the doubles title with Danai Chinamo after beating Nandi Munyulwa and Natalia Antkowiak 7/6 (0), 6/2. Dembo had earlier won the mixed doubles title with Takunda Dube when they beat Ngwarwi and Munyulwa 7/6 (2), 5/7, 10/5.
Tennis Zimbabwe president Regis Bhunu was grateful to the sponsors, Arenel, and parents for their continued support of the sport. “Arenel, we thank you for the development of tennis, definitely you are producing players who will participate in the Davis Cup in future.
“I also want to give a big thanks to the parents for their commitment, coming and supporting these kids . . . they also support them each and every single day for them to be able to go for training.
“We encourage them to continue doing that and to continue to be involved in tennis. We want their involvement, especially administration-wise, ideas and all other things which they can give.
“We want tennis to grow, we want to be competitive,” Bhunu said.
Meanwhile, 18 junior players are in Botswana for an International Tennis Federation Juniors Grade Five tournament happening from tomorrow to May.
