Zambia’s number one Edgar Kazembe scooped the Zambia Closed Tennis Championship, his second national title in two tournaments this year in Ndola.
In the women’s final, second seed Isabel Chisungo defeated top-seed twin sister Christabel in three sets to claim yet another title off her sister this year.
Kazembe was ecstatic after his 2-0 victory, crediting hard work for his consistency.
“It feels good to be champion again. It was tough here and I think the ITF J30 tournament in Lusaka has helped many young players because they stayed on court a lot and were hitting the ball a lot,” he said.
He won the final in straight sets against fast-rising star Jordan Mwale, 6-3, 7-6(10-8). A tiebreak was needed in the second set.
Kazembe also won the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) title in Ndola earlier this year.
In the women’s singles, Isabel came from a set down to beat Christabel 2-6, 7-5, 6-0 to win her third title of the year.
“I am so happy to have won this tournament. I have been working hard and it was tough against my sister,” she said.
In the men’s doubles, Kazembe partnered Mwale to claim another title, beating Moses Ng’andu and Richard Simbaya 6-0, 6-3.
To reach the final, the Kazembe-Mwale pair defeated Sydney Soko and Owen Mwale 6-4, 6-2.
That gave Jordan double joy as he also beat older brother Owen in the singles semifinals.
The other men’s semi-final saw Ng’andu and Simbaya stage a comeback to beat Peter Simbeye and Dickson Phiri 3-6, 7-6, 10-7.
In the women’s doubles, the Chisungo twins beat Mukangwa Siame and Mitress Nalwizya 6-2, 6-1 in the semis.
The other semi saw the Mumena-Chewe pair fight back to defeat Beatrice Phiri and Maggie Mutale 2-6, 6-3, 10-3.
