03 Apr 2024

Local tennis player, Mark Nawa has made it to the quarterfinal of the World Tennis Tour Juniors tournament to be played at Notwane Courts today. 

Nawa eliminated South Africa’s Rynard Van Der 7-6(5), 6-3 on his way to the quarterfinal and yesterday thrashed another South African, Hlumanani Kekana 6-3, 6-3.

He said in an interview that his target was to reach the final and ultimately win the title. 

“I played in the final of the same tournament and finished in position two, but this time around I want to win the title,” he said.

Nawa said he had played against Kekana before in the same tournament and that the results were the same hence he was relaxed throughout the game because he knew his strength and weakness. 

“I was not under pressure and I started the match well,” he said.

Nawa said he took the first set 6-3 but that Kekana played much better on the second set. “It was really a tough second set, but I gained my momentum and held serve,” he said

Kekana praised Nawa as a tough opponent and that he had lost to him last year in the same tournament. He said he tried to perform, but that did not work out as planned.

Meanwhile, Seabo Saleshando lost 6-2, 6-4 to Israel Dowie of Namibia while Mpho Leshoele of Lesotho lost 6-3, 5-3 to Guy Vorwerk of South Africa. ENDs