BY SPORTSCAST WRITER
HARARE – Benjamin and Courtney Lock won the doubles event of the Intertionaux de Tennis de Bois in France on Saturday, in front of their elated mother, becoming the first Zimbabwean pair to claim a title at that level of the game since Wayne Black and Kevin Ullyett clinched the US Open in 2005.
The Harare-born siblings defeated Frenchmen Corentin Denolly and Arthur Gea 1-6, 6-3, 10-6 to seal the ATP Challenger tournament in southwestern France, recording a feat last achieved nearly two decades ago by the legendary duo of Black and Ullyett.
“We are really happy, we have had two finals before, so it was special,” 27-year-old Courtney, the younger of the brothers, said.
“It was even more special having our mum, it was her first week on tour with us in Europe so that was very, very special. We are looking to build on this. We have a couple of more tournaments lined up in Europe before the Davis Cup in Nigeria in five weeks’ time. We are building up some really good momentum and playing some of our best tennis. We are just delighted with the win. It was a special day and e are looking forward to more.”
The brothers’ parents, Martin and Lindsay Lock, are stalwarts of tennis development in Zimbabwe.
