Zimbabwe number one tennis player Takanyi Garanganga bowed out of the South Africa (TSA) NWU-Pukke Tennis Futures tournament after a shock quarterfinal defeat to Elie Rousset of France in North West Province, South Africa yesterday.
By Henry Mhara Sports Reporter
After winning the Twenty Third Century Systems International Tennis Federation men’s singles tournament in Harare last week, the 22-year old Garanganga was looking to finish the year on a high, but came stuck against the Frenchman, falling to a 6-4 6-1 defeat. Garanganga was seeded third at the tournament and was one of the favourites to clinch the $10 000 tourney. Rousset was seeded fifth.
Zimbabwe’s hopes of getting something at the tournament effectively evaporated after Valeria Bhunu also crashed out in the women doubles at the quarterfinal stage.
The 17-year old, who was partnering South African Jessica Simpson-narrowly lost 6-4, 4-6 (10-7) to a Kim-Alice Grajdek (Germany)/Kerem Shlomo (Israel) partnership.
The third Zimbabwean at the tournament Mark Fynn made an early exit from the tournament after he went down 6-3 7-6 (6) to Aviv Darmon of Israel on Thursday.
Fynn also competed in the men’s doubles when he partnered Patrick Crowley of South Africa, but the duo was defeated 6-4, 2-6 (10-7) by Renier Moolman and Mathew Rossouw, both from South Africa.
However, it was Garanganga’s defeat that was more upsetting.
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After cruising in the early stages of the competition, defeating Hassan Ndayishimiye of Burundi and Dean O’Brien of South Africa in straight sets, a match against Rousset was supposed to be one of those routine wins by the Zimbabwean. However, the United States-based star who has recently been struggling with a shoulder problem just collapsed in the second set after a spirited first set fight back.
