Botswana’s rising tennis stars Malak Macheng and Tinashe Phatshwane have advanced to the semi-finals of the International Tennis Federation/Confederation of African Tennis (ITF/CAT) 14 and Under Circuit, following impressive victories at the National Tennis Centre in Gaborone today.
Malak Macheng delivered a confident performance against Zimbabwe’s Rivarashe Mukunine, securing a straight-sets win of 6-3, 7-5. The young talent displayed composure and tactical maturity throughout the match, using her strong baseline game to dominate key rallies and secure her spot in the final four.
Tinashe Phatshwane, on the other hand, battled through a tense three-set thriller against Ryan Mapepet, also of Zimbabwe. After narrowly losing the first set in a tiebreak (6-7), Phatshwane bounced back in remarkable fashion, taking the second set 6-1 before sealing victory with a commanding 10-1 win in the deciding super tiebreak.
Both players have shown exceptional skill and determination throughout the tournament and their advancement marks a significant achievement for Botswana’s junior tennis development. Their success also reflects the growing strength of the local tennis scene and the quality training support provided by the Botswana Tennis Association.
With the semi-finals approaching, all eyes will be on Macheng and Phatshwane as they aim to continue their winning momentum and possibly secure spots in the finals. Their progress not only inspires young athletes across the country but also signals Botswana’s growing presence in regional and international youth tennis competitions.
