JOIN DRIVERN TAXI AS PARTNER DRIVER TODAY!
EDGAR Kazembe yesterday overcame Zimbabwean Martin Dzuwa to retain the First Quantum Minerals (FQM) Zambia Open Tennis Championship title at Lusaka Club.
And upcoming Zimbabwean tennis star Pauline Chawafambira won her maiden Zambia Open title with a stunning 6-4, 6-4 victory over Nancy Oniya of Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kazembe sealed a 6-2, 6-3 victory after one hour and 30 minutes of action.
The two players met last at the same venue and Kazembe trounced Dzuwa 6-2, 6-4.
In the opening set, the pace and accuracy of Kazembe’s groundstrokes began to draw errors from the usually faultless Dzuwa, who was clearly not at his best.
Kazembe brimming with energy and confidence needed little encouragement as he proved too strong for the Zimbabwean with his strong serves, pace and power.
The game was much shorter as the temperamental Dzuwa could not find the lines hitting shots wide or long on Kazembe’s serve as he also struggled tremendously to hold his own serve.
Kazembe triumphed without losing a set dispatching off perennial favourite Phenyo Matong of Botswana on his way to retaining the title.
“I think I played probably my best match on the clay courts this year. When you’re playing one of the best players (Martin) in Zimbabwe it’s obvious I had to be on the top of my game, I had to play my best,” Kazembe said in an interview.
Dzuwa said: “The match was really close and I think Edgar (Kazembe) played well. The match was so exciting. Even last year we played another fantastic match against each other. It’s a really bad loss for me now. I really wanted to avenge last year’s defeat.”
Kazembe pocketed US$ 1,700 (about K9,000) while Dzuwa walked away with US$1,200.
Chawafambira also received US$1,200.
And Deputy Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Miles Sampa, who watched the final, gave Kazembe K1, 000 as a token of appreciation for retaining the title.
