TOP-SEEDED Nicole Dzenga survived a second round scare as she needed three sets to beat Germany’s Luisa Schwarte 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 and advance to the quarter-finals of the ITF 18 & Under South Central Circuit tennis tournament at Harare Sports Club yesterday. SPORTS REPORTER
The highly-ranked Zimbabwean, who had been given a bye in the first round, made a slow start, falling behind after losing the first set 1-6 as Schwarte threatened to cause a huge upset.
However, after the indifferent start Dzenga started to land her shots, and her serves, with more consistency to win the next two sets comfortably.
Dzenga, who now is the country’s sole hope in the girls’ competition, will now face the fifth seeded Ukrainian Oleksandra Andrieieva in the quarterfinals.
In the boys competition, top seed Courtney Lock remained in contention after a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win over Morroco’s’ Ahmed Herress which set up an enticing all-Zimbabwean quarterfinal contest with Tadiwa Chinamo.
Chinamo booked his quarterfinal place after beating his compatriot Ngoni Makambwa 6-4, 6-1.
Mutare-based Alwyn Mushonga also progressed to the last eight after upstaging the seventh seed Venkata Paramatmuni from India 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-3.
Results at a glance Girls Singles: Habiba Lasheen (EGY) beat Klaudia Wira (POL) 6-2, 6-2; Caroline Ilowska beat Keren Muswere (ZIM) 6-3, 6-2; Natsumi Okamoto (JPN) beat Alice McGinty (GBR) 6-3, 6-3; Noa Nederpelt (NED) beat Rudo Mahachi (ZIM) 6-0, 6-0; Sandra Friedl (AUT) beat Zainab Bendahhou (MRC) 4-6, 6-2, 6-0; laila Elnimr (EGY) beat Zuzanna Marciniak (POL) 6-2, 7-5 Boys Singles: Gueninle Ouattara (CIV) beat Aly Zaghloul (EGY) 6-3, 6-3; Kareem Allaf beat Uladzimir Dorash (BLR) 6-4; 6-2; Simon Fiala (AUT) beat Luca Picci (ZIM) 5-7, 6-2, 6-4; Innocent Tidimane (BOT) beat Akram El Sallaly (EGY) 6-0, 5-7, 7-6 (5)
