24 Jul 2014

Phenyo Matong put up a magnificent performance which saw him retain the Motor Centre Botswana Open Tennis championships men’s singles title over the President’s Day holidays.

The 28-year-old Botswana number one battled from a set down to defeat Edgar Kazembe of Zambian 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 in a tough final played at the National Tennis Centre on Tuesday, July 22.

“It feels good to win this tournament again, but I know I can play a lot better. There is still a lot to do, lots of improvements I must make,” he said after winning the title for the third year running.

Matong dropped a set for his first time in the tournament when Kazembe won the first set, but he quickly levelled with an emphatic 6-1 win in the second set.

The third set was a gigantic struggle as both players held serve in their five consecutive service games, but Matong broke Kazembe’s serve in the 11^th game of the set to lead 6-5.

He then sent an emphatic forehand winner on his second match-point in his next service game to wrap up victory.

“I had to remember what my strengths are. His strength is serving while my strength is keeping it going and making sure that the ball stays live. The longer the match went the more his intensity dropped and I was able to capitalise,” said Matong, who pocketed P10 000 while Kazembe got P6 000.

Although he was in a mean mood throughout the tournament and reached the final without dropping a set, he said the competition was much tougher

He got a bye in the first round, then cruised past Prince Dithole 6-0, 6-0 in the second round, before seeing off Henry Banda of Zambia 6-1, 6-1 in the third round.

He proceeded to the semi-finals after his quarter-final opponent Kombe Mabo retired with the Botswana number one leading 3-0 in the first set.

He then demolished Liberty Nzula of Zimbabwe 6-0, 6-2 to reach his third successive Botswana Tennis Open men’s singles final.

South Africa’s Lenice Van Eyk beat Pauline Chawafambira of Zimbabwe 6-0, 7-5 to win the ladies singles final and pocket P6 000.

Nzula and Tandai Tapfuma defeated Matong and Feliciano Guilande 7-6, 6-2 in the men’s doubles final. ENDS