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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
THREE Zimbabwean players progressed to the singles quarter-finals of the third tournament of the International Tennis Federation Old Mutual Futures Series when they won their second round matches yesterday at Harare Sports Club.

Top seed Benjamin Lock, second seed Takanyi Garanganga and Mehluli Sibanda remained on course and will be hoping for another good day on court today.

Benjamin outclassed Jeremy Sonkin of United States in straight sets 6-1, 6-1 in less than an hour.

The Zimbabwean top player dominated the match.

“I played well it was a pretty quick match, a lot of quick points. I felt physically good out there and I played my normal level and it was good enough to get me through today.

“I am pushing. This is the final week, so a lot of people are tired physically and mentally, so if there is a week to capitalise on then it’s this one and so far so good,” said Lock.

He is also hoping for another successful week in the doubles with his brother Courtney after back-to-back wins, in the first and second tournaments.

“We played a tough doubles match yesterday (Tuesday) for a first round, it was really a good match and we played really well.

‘’So I think for Courtney, and I, we are just going to go match by match but we would love to finish off with a hat-trick of titles.

“And, obviously, for singles, now that I am through to the quarter-finals my goal is definitely to make the finals and win the tournament,” said Lock.  Garanganga was in good form as he dismissed Tukhula Jacobs of Namibia 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the quarter-finals.

‘’I am improving my game. I played well yesterday, getting better today, so I like this week, the way it’s looking.

“First week of July I will start playing challengers again so this is good, good practice, good preparation and we go from there,” said Garanganga.

Mehluli Sibanda also remained on course when he overcame Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha 6-1, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals.

In today’s matches, Garanganga takes on Emmett Ward of United States while Benjamin faces Anirudh Chandrasekar of India.

Sibanda plays Dhruv Sunish of India.

In the doubles semi-finals, the Lock brothers Benjamin and Courtney have a date against India’s Tarun Anirudh Chilakalapudi and Poonacha.  They beat Lance-Pierre Du Toit and Anurag Nenwani 6-4, 6-4 in the quarter-finals yesterday.