Upcoming Zimbabwe tennis stars Benjamin Lock and Fadzai Mawisire were crowned champions at the Manicaland Senior Tennis Open in Mutare on Sunday.
Lock came into the tournament a second-seeded player after veteran Genius Chidzikwe, was shocked in the semi finals by Botswana international Phenyo Matong 6-4, 6-2, 6-3.
In last four, Lock defeated Tendai Tapfuma 3-6, 6-2,6-3 to book a place in the final where he outclassed Matong 6-0, 6-3, which saw him walk away with $850 for the first prize.
In the women’s category, top seed Mawisire hammered Karen Muswere 6-1, 6-1 to book a date in the final against Pauline Chawafambira, who had earlier defeated Loraine Mandingwa 6-3, 6-3.
Mawisire made light work of Chawafambira dispatching her 6-1, 6-3 to walk away with $350.
“l was very happy with the win. The competition was good for me since it was my first time to play on a claycourt in seven years,” she said.
Tournament director of the Manicaland Tennis Board, Freeman Nyamunokora, said the attendance from players was high.
“lf players are exposed to three or four tournaments of this magnitude in the country, then our tennis will be heading somewhere. The attendance was very good, 46 players managed to participate in both categories,” he said.
