The Sunday Mail
THE Zimbabwe Tennis Futures jamboree roars into life at Harare Sports Club today amid hopes that members of the Davis Cup team will play their way into form.
Zimbabwe is now in the Africa Zone Group III and their quest to get back into the Euro/Africa Group II will see the team play in a 15-nation tournament from July 17-22 in Egypt.
The top two teams from the Egypt tournament will be promoted.
Now as tennis players from across the world prepare to battle in Harare in the first of three ITF Pro Circuit tournaments that Zimbabwe will host over the next four weeks all eyes will be on how the locals will perform. Zimbabwe’s number two player Ben Lock, Mark Fynn and the fast rising pair of Mehluli Sibanda and Tadiwa Chinamo are part of the draw.
Top player Takanyi Garanganga is not part of the Zimbabwe Futures, but is expected to be active on some tours.
US based Courtney Lock is still recovering from a wrist injury suffered in April.
Tennis Zimbabwe president Martin Lock feels the Futures Tour has come at the perfect time for Zimbabwe.
“Obviously the Futures are very timely,” he said.
“Three weeks of very competitive tennis should give our players the perfect platform to prepare for the crucial Davis Cup tournament that will held in Egypt next month.”
Lock is confident that Zimbabwe’s Davis Cup players will be ready to fight for promotion by the time they leave for Egypt.
“That tourney means a lot to us and the players know it too. Takanyi is not part of the Zimbabwe Futures, but he is active in some tours, Benji, Mark, Mehluli and Tadiwa are around and should make the most of the Futures chance.
“We are also hoping Courtney will have recovered, he had surgery on his wrist in April but we are not yet sure how much time he will be out for.
However, we wish him a speedy recovery,” said the TZ boss.
