ZIMBABWE’S leading female junior tennis player Nicole Dzenga will be the number one seed at the ITF East African 18-and-Under Junior Circuit by virtue of being the highest ranked player in the girls’ draw.
DANIEL NHAKANISO
The ITF Grade 4 tournament, which is for players aged 18 and below, will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, from January 26-31.
Dzenga (16), who has a world ranking of 366 on the ITF Junior world rankings, will be the top seed in the girls’ draw which has a total of 35 players. The South Africa-based rising star will be joined in the girls’ competition by Zarah Finnigan and Rufaro Chirewa who will also feature in the main draw.
Zimbabwe will also have two representatives in the boys’ competition namely 14-year-old Mehluli Sibanda and 16-year-old Mzingaye Sibanda. Tennis Zimbabwe administrator Cliff Nhokwara said he was hopeful the players would do well in Kenya.
“Well, seedings are based on the ITF rankings which is why Nicole is in the top seed in the tournament.
“Hopefully, she will use that to her advantage and do well, which would further boost her rankings. Zarah, Rufaro, Mehluli and Mzingaye are the other Zimbabweans playing at the tournament and we hope they will play well,” Nhokwara said.
