Tennis star Takanyi Garanganga is closing in on another medal for the rather struggling Team Zimbabwe at the ongoing All -Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique after cruising into the men’s singles semi-finals on Wednesday.

The United States-based sensation, who is ranked 11th-best in Africa booked his berth in the semis set for today after beating a Mauritius opponent 6-2, 6-4 at the Tondouri Jardin Clay Courts.

In qualifying for the quarter-finals, the former African junior champion had accounted for an Angolan opponent 6-4, 6-2 before dispatching Jean Lolo of Togo 6-4, 7-5.

With his teammates and other members in Team Zimbabwe stuttering at the games, Garanganga remains the country’s rare glimmer of hope for more medals.

Zimbabwe has accumulated 12 medals so far, with 11 of them coming from the women swimming team led by inspirational Kirsty Coventry.

The women won four gold, six silver and one bronze medal before visually impaired athlete Nyaradzo Tagarira added her name on that list with another silver medal in the 100m T13 sprint on Monday.

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While Garanganga was making good strides towards a medal for Zimbabwe, teammate Mark Fynn found the going tough as he lost 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Duncan Mugabe of Uganda in another men’s singles quarter-final match on Wednesday.

The Cape Town-based Fynn now looks to redeem himself in the men’s doubles category on Friday when he partners Garanganga.

It is the same sad story for the women tennis team after the country’s two representatives at the games, Pauline Chawafambira and Valeria Bhunu were both knocked out of the women singles on Tuesday.

The two pray for better fortunes when they partner in Friday’s doubles.