Samson Muroyiwa of Bulawayo caused a major stir at the 2011 ITF NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour at the Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC) after storming into the semi-finals of the competition in the Men’s Open category after beating Masvingo’s Honondo Gondayi 6-0, 6-0 yesterday.
Unseeded Muroyiwa, who bundled out fourth-seeded South African Frank Ramokoatsi out of the competition with a 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 victory in the first round on Monday, meets Zimbabwe’s number one Nyasha Mharakurwa in the semi-final today.
Mharakurwa of Bulawayo, but now based in South Africa, beat Rangarirai Chiware of Bulawayo 6-0, 6-0 in the first round and proceeded to beat Harare’s Collin Makwanya in the quarter-finals with the same score-line.
He is the favourite to win the competition which started at BAC on Monday.
South African Patrick Selepe has also booked a place in the semi-final after beating Shepherd Banda of Bulawayo 6-0, 6-1 in the quarter-final.
Third-seeded Selepe beat fellow South African Connie DuToit 6-3, 6-3 in the first round and meets another South African Ishmael Tshipuke in the semi-final.
Tshipuke beat Moses Chitombo of Masvingo 6-1, 6-0 in the first round before edging Harare’s Harry Mavengano 6-0, 6-0 in the quarter-finals.
Speaking to NewsDay Sport on Monday, Muroyiwa said he was excited and was hopeful of reaching the finals, but faced a tough hurdle against Mharakurwa.
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“I am happy. I know I can do it. I beat Ramokoatsi who beat me last year and at this stage if I pull up my stockings, I might get to the finals,” Muroyiwa said.
The Ladies’ Open semi-finals pitting Celia DuToit of South Africa against Nyarai Nechiturike and Dorcas Hwatira versus another South African Rosalea Van Der Merwe will also be played today.
