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TOGETHER AS ONE . . . Courtney Lock (right) prepares for a backhand while his doubles partner, Gueninle Abdoul Karir Quattara, looks on during yesterday’s finals at Harare Sports Club

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S Courtney Lock and his partner Gueninle Abdoul Karir Quattara retained their doubles title when they beat the pair of Damon Kesaris and Ryhs Milne in the doubles finals yesterday at Harare Sports Club.
Lock, who was playing his last junior tournament, teamed up with Quattara from Cote d’Ivoire to prevail over Kesaris and Milne 6-1, 7-5.
The pair made light work of their opponents in the first set, the second set that was tightly-contested as Kesaris and Milne tried to overturn the tables.

But Lock and Quattara proved to be the best pair of the day as they took the second set.
Lock said it was good to end his junior career with a title.

“I think I have just had a lot of exposure over my junior tennis career, this is my last tournament so I am really happy to win it.
“I think since I was young I have always had good volleys and like to come into the nets. I think that really helped and Abdoul and we just really clicked, we are both tall which gave us an advantage.

“We both got a big serve but I think it was also just playing solid, not going for too much.
“It’s good way to finish. Obviously, I would have liked to have done better in the singles but I had a tough match and the guy ended up making semi-finals but I am really happy to get a title in my last junior event,” said Lock.

Lock, who will be leaving for the United States next week on a four-year scholarship at the University of Louisville, expressed satisfaction with the exposure and experience he got over the years.

“It’s been great, I have really enjoyed it.
I think it’s a great stepping stone for the future circuit because you get to play a lot of different people from different countries and it’s good experience,” said Lock.
Quattara was also pleased with their achievements in the three tournaments as they retained the title for the third consecutive week.

“I am very happy for that title. Three titles in a row, it’s not easy. With my partner Lock we played well, sometimes it was getting close but we played well I am very happy.

“It’s not my first time here in Zimbabwe, this is my third time now. I like Zimbabwe, the organisation is very good, I am happy to be here,” said Quattara.
Nicole Dzenga and Theresa Alison Van Zyl beat the pair of Nadine De Villiers and Katie Poluta 6-4, 2-6, 10-8.

The curtain comes down on tournament today with the singles finals set for this morning.