ZIMBABWE number one tennis player Takanyi Garanganga is in the running for the $10 000 Tennis South Africa (TSA) NWU-Pukke Futures tournament prize money after cruising to the quarterfinals of the tournament in North West Province, South Africa, yesterday. REPORT BY HENRY MHARA SPORTS REPORTER
The 22-year-old star, who is flying high after winning the Twenty Third Century Systems International Tennis Federation men’s singles tournament in Harare last week, beat Hassan Ndayishimiye of Burundi 6-0, 6-4 at the second round stage Garanganga, who is seeded third at the tournament, will now face fifth seed Ellie Roussel of France. If he progresses past Roussel, the United States-based player is likely to face first seed Rik de Voest in the semi-finals. The South African Voest plays his fellow countryman Jean Anderson in the quarterfinal.
In qualifying for the second round, Garanganga beat South African Dean O’Brien 6-4, 6-2.
It was also a good day for Valeria Bhunu who qualified for the women doubles quarterfinals.
The 17-year-old Bhunu partnered Jessica Simpson to dispatch the pair of Bianca Birkenstock and Marli Van Heerden 6-3, 6-3.
Another Zimbabwean at the tournament Mark Fynn has, however, found the going tough as he crashed out in the first round.
The South African-based player fell to Aviv Darmon of Israel 6-3, 7-6 (6).
Fynn, who is seeded 18th at the tournament, returned to the courts later on the day in the men’s doubles when he partnered Patrick Crowley of South Africa, but the duo went down 6-4, 2-6, (10-7) to Renier Moolman and Mathew Rossouw, both of South Africa.
