PROMISING Zimbabwe junior tennis player Courtney Lock completed a successful weekend for local tennis by winning his second doubles title at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) East African Circuit Two tournament at Mombasa Sports Club in Kenya.
SPORTS REPORTER
On the same weekend that the country’s leading professional tennis player Takanyi Garanganga lifted the 23rd Century Systems ITF Futures title at home, Lock showed that the future of the sport in Zimbabwe is bright by winning away in Kenya.
This was Lock’s second major doubles title in Kenya in as many weeks after his ITF East African Circuit One doubles title on November 24. Lock (16) is the younger brother to Florida-based Zimbabwe Davis Cup tennis player Benjamin.
Partnering Kenya’s Ismael Changawa, Lock beat the pair of Adam Noureldin from Sudan and Alansi Ghassaan from Yemen 6-4, 6-2 in straight sets in the final on Saturday. On their road to the final, Lock and Changawa had a bye in the first round before going on to beat Belgium’s Thomas Brees and Alex Hagon 6-0, 6-2 in the second round.
The youthful top-seeded duo then proceeded to qualify for the quarter-finals after registering an easy 6-1, 6-1 win against the South African pair of Sias Merkling and Nikolas Pondicas.
They were, however, given a scare in the semi-finals where they had to dig deep before eventually scrapping through after a nerve-wrecking tie break to win 1-6, 6-4, (10-4) against the British pair of Mason Recci and Sasha Modica.
Lock had a chance to complete a double at the tournament by winning the boys’ singles competition, but lost in the second round to Nickolas Pondicas from South Africa 1-6, 6-4, 2-6.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
The upcoming tennis star, based at the ITF/SATA Training Centre in Pretoria, SA, will have a chance to capture another piece of silverware when he takes part in the third leg of the tourney — the ITF East African Circuit Three, which takes place this week.
