Kazembe sets up Zambia Closed tennis final against Mwale

By BENEDICT TEMBO

DEFENDING champion Edgar Kazembe dug deeper than he ever had yesterday, rallying from a set down to defeat Dickson Phiri 5-7,6-3, 7-5 and book his place in the Zambia Closed men’s final.

Ageless Kazembe looked down and out after dropping the opener 5-7 in the three set thriller at Ndola Tennis Club.

Phiri had the crowd on his feet and the momentum pushing him on.

But the reigning champion flipped the script in a tense second set tiebreak, then closed out a brutal decider 7-5 to stay alive in his title defence.

“I just told myself to fight for every point,” Kazembe said after the match. “Dickson played amazing (tennis). To come back like that means a lot.”

It sets up a blockbuster final against Jordan Mwale, who earlier survived his own war.

Jordan beat his brother Owen Mwale 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 in a match where Owen saved four match points before Jordan finally broke through.

Two semi-finals, two three-setters and two comebacks was the order of thrills in Ndola.

Jordan Mwale, the younger of the Mwale brothers who just beat family to reach his first Zambia Closed final was relentless in the third set.

On the other hand, Kazembe the defending champion had a target on his back, proving ruthless, proving he can win ugly and win from behind.

The final will be played today.

Ends.