TENNIS star Takanyi Garanganga was denied a second consecutive ITF Futures title in Turkey after being knocked out in the quarterfinals of the $10 000 Tacspor Cup in Istanbul yesterday.
SPORTS REPORTER
The country’s leading male professional tennis player who, last Saturday won the Turkey F24 Futures in Istanbul, was knocked out in the quarterfinals by Jathan Malik from Great Britain.
The unseeded Malik, who is ranked a lowly 1295 stunned the second-seeded world number 449 Garanganga 6-3, 6-2 in straight sets to advance to the semifinals of the competition.
Fatigue might have contributed to Garanganga’s dismal performance against Malik as he was playing in his third consecutive tournament in as many weeks in Turkey.
Garanganga will however be satisfied with his performance in Turkey after reaching the quarterfinals twice and winning the Turkey F24 Futures last week.
The win last Saturday was Garanganga’s fourth ITF Futures singles tennis title in addition to the Turkey Futures 35 and 36 tournaments both staged in the same country last year and the Zimbabwe F1 Futures.
ITF Futures tournaments are the lowest rung in professional tennis and are organised by the ITF Men’s Circuit to create a platform for players to win career titles and improve their world rankings.
