Zimbabwe Open Gets Overwhelming Response

THERE have been an overwhelming number of entries for this year's NetOne Zimbabwe Open Tennis Championship which gets underway at Harare Sports Club this morning.

The tournament had appeared to hang in the balance until mobile service provider NetOne chipped in with sponsorship.

Tennis Zimbabwe yesterday held a draw of 64 after attracting 61 players in the men's section and a draw of 32 for the women.

Despite attracting sizeable numbers, there are still questions on the calibre of players who will do battle in the competition.

Most of the players taking part are juniors while others are nothing but average.

In fact most of the players are relatively unknown and seeking to making their debut appearances at the Zimbabwe Open.

The Zim Open used to attract the cream of the local players including those based in the United States such as Genius Chidzikwe, Pfungwa Mahefu, Gwinyai Tongoona, Gwinyai Chingoka and Zibusiso Ncube.

Top locally based players like Martin Dzuwa, Peter Nyamande, Vusa Majola and Dumiso Khumalo were also regulars at previous tournaments.

However, the return of former Zim Open winner, Martin Dzuwa has given a bit of respect to the competition that is returning to the radar after a year's absence.

Dzuwa, who had a sojourn in East Africa, is the top seed and has been given a bye in the preliminary round.

The veteran player is the major draw card while former junior champion Liberty Nzula is the number two seed.

TZ had hoped to bring Davis Cup team player Takanyi Garanganga to the tournament but the player has commitments at the Futures tournaments in South Africa.

Vusa Hove is seeded third and is among the trio that has received byes.

Fourth seed Malcom Mutungamiri will get his campaign underway with a first round match against Tariro Mutemachani.

Benjamin Zhuwawu has been seeded fifth and will also take part in the first round matches today.

Kennedy Munyanyi comes in as the number six seed and Innocent Mhere is at seven while Terence Mazungaire is bubbling with confidence despite being seeded eight.

"I have entered because I think that I have the potential to win.

"But in every competition, upsets do happen," said Mazungaire.

Mazungaire, from Mutare, believes the real competition will start from the quarter-final stage.

"I think as the top seeds, it means that we are the best at the moment.

"I am happy that many players have entered but the best games will be from the quarter finals.

"Games will certainly be tough from that stage," said Mazungaire.

The top seeds in the men's draw are all tipped to sail through to the quarter finals.

Pauline Chawafambira, who is still playing in the juniors, is the top seed in the women's category.

Denise Atrzinger is the number two seed and Senzosihle Maphisa is at three.

There is also Sally Anne Mcdonald who is still defying age to play in the competitive tournament while Tatenda Mavunduke, Cathrine Nhamoyebonde and Karen Machisa are also in.

Machisa is just a Grade Six pupil at Selbourne Routledge Primary and is hoping to try her luck against older players.

The Zim Open will get underway with the first round matches today while the winners will progress to the second round.

Tomorrow sees the Zim Open reaching the third and fourth rounds while the doubles matches will start later on the same day. Saturday has been reserved for the semi-finals before the finals on Sunday at the main court at Harare Sports Club.

TZ had a hard time coming up with the seedings in the absence of regular tournaments of late.

Most of the senior players have been given a higher seeding while the juniors had been seeded based on the previous events rather than current form.

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