United States-based Zimbabwean tennis ace Takanyi Garanganga won his maiden singles professional title on the ITF Futures’ Circuit, emerging triumphant at the Turkey F35 Futures men’s singles in Antalya, Turkey, at the weekend.
Daniel Nhakaniso The 22-year-old was crowned the singles champion at the Tennis Organisation Beleconti Resort Tennis Courts on Sunday after his opponent Nikolaus Moser from Australia retired in the first set due to injury.
Garanganga, who had dropped just one set on his way to the final, had been leading 3-0 in the opening set when Moser pulled out injured.
The win in Turkey was, Garanganga’s second major title on the ITF Futures Circuit after the Guatemala F1 Futures doubles title he won in Central America in January last year.
On his road to the final, Garanganga needed three sets to beat Russia’s Andrei Plotniy 7-6 (8), 1-6, 6-1 in the first set before accounting for Bumpei Sato from Japan 6-4, 6-4 in the second round.
In the quarter-finals, the former African junior champion stormed past Pavel Filin from Belarus 6-3, 6-4.
In the semis, Garanganga won the first set 6-1 against Andrei Ciumac from Madagascar, who would retire in the second set while the Zimbabwean star looked set to wrap up the match, as he was leading 2-0 in the second set.
Ironically that would be the same script in the final as Garanganga finally ended his wait for a singles Futures title and also move up on the singles rankings from position 614 to a career high 582.
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Garanganga is currently Zimbabwe’s highest ranked professional tennis player and has been a regular feature on the ITF Men’s professional circuit.
He has also recently taken part in Challenger Tour events, the second highest level of competition on the ITF Men’s circuit ahead of the Futures tournaments – the third and final tier of international professional competition.
Should he continue playing consistently and earning more ranking points like he did in Turkey, the former Prince Edward schoolboy could become eligible for the main draw or qualifying entry in ATP World Tour and Grand Slam tournaments.
