Boys & Girls: ITF South/Central Circuit 1, Zimbabwe, hard - Grade 4 (Week 31)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

RE: Boys & Girls: ITF South/Central Circuit 1, Zimbabwe, hard - Grade 4 (Week 31)

Spectator · All-time great

Southern Africa

Must admit to a tiny bit of ambivalence in all this, as it feels slightly awkward to watch European players come in and get so many of the points on offer when it's relatively difficult to travel from Zim/RSA/Namibia to tournaments elsewhere (Sibanda, for example, has never played outside Eastern and Southern Africa). But at least I suppose it gives some additional competition against which to measure oneself.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Good points, Spectator.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

My own experience of junior tennis tournaments in 'remote' locations is that foreign players are hugely appreciated, although obviously home success is more than welcome. If there is only a small national tennis scene and travelling to play internationally is a big undertaking, it can be an expensive risk for better young players to dip their toe in the waters of foreign competition to see where they really are. Organisers, coaches and parents at these events are always asking foreign players how the tournament stacks up against those in other parts of the world - in terms of organisation, standard of play etc etc.

Taking Southern Africa as an example, there is a high quality junior tennis scene there but it is relatively small. Their junior ITFs are generally Grades 4 and 5. All their players who are free enter these events, from those who are really just beginners to very strong players who have travelled or who are looking at strong US scholarships. There will also be a few foreigners looking for easy points or tournaments where they can just get into qualifying to pick up their first points. Because of the 'remoteness', and small size of the local tennis circuit, there is space for all. There are therefore some easy points for foreigners but they are by no means guaranteed, the stronger locals often come through. But even if they don't it's not seen as a poor tournament as so many of their players at all levels have had the opportunity to play somebody different and all players, parents and coaches have been able to watch and talk to players from more established tennis countries.

Spectator · All-time great

Thanks, Optimist. That's really helpful.

Mathewjames · Social player

Interesting post Optimist. The biggest comparison I've found over the last two events in Zimbabwe to ITF's in the UK is the range of standards. There are some very easy first rounds going here as qualifying isn't full and obviously it's location making it more difficult for players to reach. In the UK it's much more evenly matched right from qualifying.

However, unederestimate your opponent at your peril out here. The heat, balls absolutely flying, some unorthodox opponents, home advantage (there were bongos playing for the Zimbabwean in the final last week against Luke!). And then as mentioned some players not travelling out of parts of Africa their ranking is actually pretty poor and best to avoid!