Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S players at the ongoing Old Mutual Zimbabwe F3 ITF Futures found the going tough yesterday with Benjamin Lock losing to Vullnet Tashi of Switzerland, while Mbonisi Ndimande fell to Michael Grant at Harare Sports Club.

Lock lost 6-2, 4-6, 4-6 to Tashi in a close match while Ndimande was defeated 2-6, 5-7 in another match.

Both players had made it to the second round after winning the opening matches but yesterday it proved to be a bit tough for them.

Lock, who was Zimbabwe’s top player at the tournament, took the lead when he won the first set 6-2, but Tashi turned the tables when he won the second set and the match had to be decided in the third set.

Lock appeared set to win the match having played some good tennis in the first set making some good serves.

The Zimbabwe Davis Cup team member conceded defeat and said he did not play to the best of his abilities yesterday but remains optimistic of better fortunes in his next assignments.

“Well done to my opponent who played well today, difficult conditions, it was windy and cold today so the balls didn’t move as a much so well done to him. I didn’t play my best today.

“I served well first serve throughout the match but I didn’t return great. The condition was just really tough to get the ball on the court. I will just take some time off and then come back for training for Davis Cup.

“I am fit and train for these kind of matches, just it wasn’t my day today and I wasn’t playing well and he was playing well.

“So it’s always tough when your opponent plays with a lot of confidence and you are not playing your best,” said Lock.

Tashi was happy with the result and said he had to fight back after losing the first set.

“First set he played really well, served really well but I fought, I didn’t give up and the second set was really tight but he made a few errors so I came back.

“In the second set and the third set I really stayed with him and then again a few mistakes from him and I won the match.

“It was tough, three sets it’s always tough, mentally it’s also tough but its good I won. Benji was really tough today but I hope it will not get tougher tomorrow.

“I am just going to prepare the same way that I did today. I am going to watch the match to see who I am playing,” said Tashi.

Although he lost in the singles, Lock won the doubles match when he partnered his young brother Courtney.

They beat the pair of Duncan Mugabe and Hassan Ndayishimiye 6-2, 6-2 to progress to the semi-finals.

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