Clive Thabo Dube & John Ndlovu
TENNIS in Zimbabwe has been overshadowed by soccer over the years due to low support, popularity and fan base.
Despite all hurdles faced, the racket and small ball sport has been widely growing on the international scene as evidenced by the emergence of the Williams sisters (Serena and Venus), Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Coming back home in Zimbabwe, the Lock Brothers (Benjamin and Courtney Lock) and Tinashe Garanganga have also made headlines on the international scene due to the stellar performances in the Senior International Tennis Federation world tour and the Davis Cup.
This sport requires enormous finances for training facilities, resources and travel for one to have international exposure in order to meet international standards. Especially the novices, thus the junior tennis players, who require adequate facilitation and support so as to climb up the sport’s ranking ladder as one needs to constantly engage and participate in international tournaments.
The Bulawayo Tennis Club (BAC) in the heart of the city of Kings and Queens recently hosted the International Tennis Federation (ITF) world tour from the 26th of November to the 2nd of December, which had over sixteen guest participants from across the globe. The participants included those from Serbia,Japan, France, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, The United Kingdom, Botswana, Burundi, Australia, Canada, Haiti, Madagascar, Denmark,Lesotho and the World Tennis powerhouse United States of America.
The global tournament which was held at the Bulawayo Country Club had about 87 participants including Serbian born Marko Milosavljeviç.
The Zim GBC News crew caught up with the BAC Chairperson Raggs Tarwirwa Chikunichana.
“International Tennis Federation World Tour Junior Circuit is the replica of what happens at the Senior level, this event is done to improve participants’world rankings as they gain points from their progress gained at the tournament. It also gives the host nation a chance to mix and compete with the world’s best.”
The tournament ran concurrently with the Bulawayo UTR tennis open tournament which whose it’s main aim was to keep participants fully.
Raggs clarified that the tournament drew a lot of positivity for the local talent as they were presented with an opportunity to gain international exposure and experience. Some of the local juniors managed to rub shoulders with the world’s best and some produced stellar performances which earned them a place at the quarter finals, a feat that is no fluke.
“There was a good uptake from local participants and some stormed into the quarter finals for example 16-year-old Thompson Thom, Ronan Mutisi , Zara El-Zein and Ruvarashe Magarira.” Said Chikunichana
However brain drain and talent loss to other equipped nations, lack of sponsorship continues to hinder tennis progress in the country just like any other sporting disciplines due to sport incapacitation.
Lack of financial support has seen tennis in Zimbabwe suffer stillbirth despite the talent in the Southern country.