BULAWAYO - Mutare-based Michael Gutu won the Boys Under-18 final at the Bulawayo Open tennis tournament which ended here yesterday.

Gutu beat Bulawayo’s Mzingaye Sibanda 2;6 6;4 6;0 to clinch the boys’ final.

Sibanda again played second fiddle in the boys doubles final when he together with Takunda Dube lost 6;4 4;6 11;9 to Harare’s Mark Chigadzira and Alosha Chikanda.

Latifa Yasini from Harare dominated the girls’ category as she beat Kwekwe based Wendy Rudhu in the singles final before teaming up with her victim to beat Karen Machisa and Rudo Mahachi in the doubles final 6;3 1;6 10;6.

Harare players also dominated the other age group competitions with Mark Chigadzira and Machisa winning in the Under-16 category.

Chigadzira beat Bulawayo’s Mehluli Sibanda 5;7 6;1 6;4 in the boys’ final while Machisa overcame Bulawayo lass Nikita Daka 6;3 6;2 in the girls’ final.

Bulawayo managed to restore some pride in the Under-14 age group where local boy Tanaka Chabata posted a 6;4 6;4 victory over Harare’s Jason Chigadzira and Nicole Chigwada beat Mutsa Kasipo from Harare 6;3 6;0.

Chigwada teamed up with Rutendo Makamure to cruise to victory in the Under-14 girls’ doubles while the boys’ competition was won by local boy Bongani Sibanda and his Harare teammate Michael Zhou.

Tennis Zimbabwe administrator Cliff Nhokwara praised the Bulawayo Tennis Board for hosting a very successfully event.

He said: “On behalf of Tennis Zimbabwe I would like to thank the Bulawayo Board for a successful tourney and I am encouraged by the numbers and hopefully the numbers will improve at the next tourney.”

Bulawayo players have a chance to get their act together at the Tarryn Leigh De Souza Memorial Tournament which gets underway this morning.

Matches will be played at the Bulawayo Athletic Club, Girls College and at the Bulawayo Country Club. - Sakheleni Nxumalo