Clive Thabo Dube
Sports Reporter
The 1990’s witnessed the emergence of Williams sisters, Serena and Venus and the tennis sport changed its course.
Venus and Serena were coached by their father Richard Williams. The two sisters turned pro in 1994 and 1995 respectively. They went on to win Olympic Gold in 2000 in Sydney, Australia.
Although the two tennis heavy weights have clinched individual accolades, they cannot be separated as they have challenged each other to be better and reach the mountain Everest peak.
The pair hold the record of being the only females to have battled four times consecutively in the Grand Slams and share 22 titles as well as 14 Grand Slam titles as doubles. Their first grand slam double came when Serena was 17 and Venus 18. Individually, Serena holds 23 singles grand slams just behind Margaret Court Smith who has four Olympic Gold medals and Venus has 7 singles Grand slams and the sisters as a pair have both been ranked no.1.
The far-cry success story and the journey to greatness of the Williams sisters has inspired many black tennis players around the world. In Zimbabwe’s second largest City, Bulawayo, a 11 year old girl swings her racket, “Emma”, relentlessly and passionately as she strikes her serves. The young talented tennis player goes by the name of Emmly Lebogang George and she has won over 70 medals so far across the region in South-Africa, Botswana and locally.
The young tennis maestro is coached by her father Mkhululi George, who is a former tennis player. It is therefore of no surprise that the love for tennis runs in her veins.
“I started playing tennis when I was six years old…I want to be a professional tennis player.” said Emmly, who happens to be a Coco Gauff fan.
Cori ‘Coco’ Gauff is an 18 year old who has taken the tennis sport by storm and is currently number 7 on the ATP rankings. Coco defeated Venus Williams when she was 15 in 2019 at Wimbledon. In that same year, she became the youngest WTA title holder after 18 years.
Looking up to such individuals as role models, Emmly surely has a great future ahead of her and will surely fly the Zimbabwean flag in the highest levels. But tennis like any other sport, success comes at a cost and sacrifices have to be made. But luckily, the young George has the support of her family whenever she needs it.
“I will always be there for her, be it training or local tournament to make sure she has everything she needs. As a mother l will always be there.” Said Tariro George, the mother.
“I see her playing at the level of the Williams girls. She loves tennis, it is in her blood,” she added.
In October, Lebohang lead her team mates Tanaka Mercy Mhlanga and Akeelah Robin Zinzile Khanye in the African Juniors Championship (AJC) which took place at Maputo, Mozambique. Prior to the tournament, the girls had just been crowned Southern Africa champions.
The trio fell to Tunisia who won the Mozambican tournament and the Zimbabwean girls became runners up (2nd place).
The white and male dominated sport is costly financially and this has seen people of colour struggle to make it to the top level considering the expenses required. More expenses are incurred when the player has to attend a tournament. With the high inflation rate in Zimbabwe, it does not make it any easier for the locals.
“This tennis sport is very expensive, especially the traveling and sporting gear expenses (shoes, tennis court fees, balls and strings) it is a big challenge.” Revealed Emmly’s mother.
The proud mother, further urges parents to take their children to sporting activities.
“Sport is good to a girl child because it keeps her busy and won’t have time to indulge in things that will affect her future. It keeps her busy.
“Do not hesitate to take your kids for sports especially these days, there are too many things happening out there. With sports you will never go wrong.”