23 Oct 2024

Mark Nawa and Ntungamili Raguin are through to the ITF World Tennis Tour-J60 quarterfinals taking place in Gaborone.

Nawa defeated Daniel Brink of Ireland 6-3, 6-2, while France based Raguin beat Mozambican Luca Figueiredo 6-1, 6-2.

Nawa told BOPA that he was happy with his performance because he started preparing early for the tournament and that showed in the way he played.

He said he was more comfortable with his serves and forehands, adding that he approached the game level headed, without any pressure, hence managed to win the game against one of the best tennis players.

Raguin did not disappoint either as he started his game well, and his serves were what separated him with his opponent.

He said in an interview that he managed to win against his opponents because he was focused and that won him the first set.

The second set, he said Figueiredo managed to lead but because he was calm, he was able to outdo him.

“I am happy with my performance and hopefully I will take the form to the coming matches because my mission is to make it to the final,” he said.

Meanwhile Kefentse Lekaukau and Katlego Regoeng bowed out of the competition after losing their games.

Lekaukau lost 6-0, 6-0 to South African Pavlos Christoforakis whom he regarded as one of the tough opponents.

He said he made a lot of errors, which put pressure on him.

“I think I make a lot of errors in my serves more especially in the second set, where I think I was making double faults,” he said.

Regoeng lost 6-0, 6-0 to USA’s Dillion Beckles. 

Despite playing well, Regoeng said he did not apply himself on the day.

“It is a learning curve, the most important thing in tennis is to concentrate. 

In the first set my mind was somewhere else, hence I did not do well,” he said.

Nawa will play Beckles and Raguin will take on Christoforakis in the quarterfinals. Ends