Tennis: Wenger, Crawford storm into Rwanda Open M25 semifinals
Friday, September 15, 2023
Favorite Damien Wenger will face Olivier Crawford in the semifinals of the second week of Rwanda Open M25 in Kigali. Courtesy

Favorites Damien Wenger (Switzerland) and Olivier Crawford (United States) stormed into the semifinals of the second week of Rwanda Open M25 in Kigali.

The pair booked tickets to the last four after beating Indian Ishaque Eqbal and Ukrainian Ursu Vadym in Friday’s quarterfinals. The week II of Rwanda Open M25 is underway at Kigali Ecology Tennis Club since Monday, September 11, and will run through Sunday, September 17.

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Week I champion Wenger reached the semis after defeating 2-0 (6-4 6-2) Indian Eqbal Ishake in two sets of quarterfinals.

In-form Wenger advanced to the quarterfinals after a 6-1, 6-3 round of 16 win over India’s Karteek Reddy Ganta on Thursday. The 23-year-old is chasing a double of triumphs, having won the Week I tournament after beating Crawford in Sunday’s final.

Crawford, 24, also booked his semifinal spot after eliminating his week I semifinal opponent Ursu Vadym in a 6-2, 6-2 victory on Friday.

In other games, French Corentin Denolly advanced to the last four after eliminating Indian DevPrajwal in two sets 6-2 6-2 while Burundian Orly Guy Iradukunda secured his semi-final ticket after defeating Ukraine’s Eric Vanshelboim 2-1 (6-1 1-6 6-3) in an entertaining quarterfinal game.

The overall winner of the tournament gets 25 points on top of a cash prize of $3,600.