THE Old Mutual ITF Futures Series started yesterday with the Lock brothers — Benjamin and Courtney — prevailing over India’s Paramveer Singh Bajwa and Jayesh Pungliya in the doubles’ matches at Harare Sports Club.
Benjamin and Courtney are some of the Zimbabwean players who won their matches on a day most local players had a good day in the doubles.
The United States-based brothers won 6-3, 6-2 in straight sets having taken the lead from the onset.
They had the upper hand again in the second set leading 3-0 at some point and finally won the set 6-2.
Benjamin and Courtney, who were in Mozambique for two Futures events recently and won the second tournament’s doubles, said they were looking forward to another good performance this week.
“It’s definitely different conditions in Mozambique, but we have been adjusting well and I thought we played really well in the doubles.
“And it was a really good match to get some good rhythm and we are looking forward to the next one,” said Benjamin.
He said they were out to win and were excited to be playing at home.
“To win the tournament, obviously, that’s why you enter tournaments, to try and win them. That’s the goal.
“I play my best tennis at home, so I am really excited to be back here and looking forward to playing a good match tomorrow (today). It will be tough, but that’s tennis. So I am really excited,” said Benjamin.
Courtney said he is looking forward to today’s match against India’s Aditya Deswal.
“I am playing a guy from India. He is a good player, but there is no easy match here, so I am looking forward to it. I always play well at home, so I am looking forward to give my best tomorrow,” said Courtney.
In other doubles matches played yesterday, Zimbabwe’s Tadiwa Chinamo and his partner Kareem Allaf from Syria beat Joe Cooper of Great Britain and Michael-Ray Pallares-Gonzalez of Dominican Republic 3-6, 6-3, (10-1).
Miracle Matanga partnered with Sherwin Foo of Singapore to dismiss Botswana’s pair of Phenyo Matong and Lefa Sibanda 6-1, 3-6 (10-8).
Mark Fynn and Franco Feitt of Argentina, seeded second in the doubles overpowered Marc-Andrea Huesler and Leon Oliver 6-2, 6-2.
Benjamin, Courtney, Fynn and Chinamo will play their first round singles matches today.
However, in the singles matches yesterday, Zimbabwe’s Muzingaye Sibanda lost 6-4, 6-7 (3), 3-6 to Netherlands’ Adriaan De Jager.
The tournament is the first of the three events being hosted by Zimbabwe and will run until July 10.
This week’s event will end on Saturday with the finals.
