Majchrzak wins Rwanda Challenger 1 title
Saturday, March 02, 2024
President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame join Rwanda Challenger 50 Tour week 1 champion Kamil Majchrzak and finalist Marco Trungelliti for a group photo. The Pole won the final in two sets 6-4, 6-4. courtesy

Kamil Majchrzak on Saturday, March 2, won the first week of the Rwanda Challenger 50 Tour tournament after beating Marco Trungelliti 6-4, 6-4 in the final held at Kigali Ecology Tennis Club.

It is a fifth ATP Challenger title for the 28-year-old Pole and his first major trophy since returning to the Tour at the start of 2024 after serving a 13-month ban for alleged doping.

Meanwhile, defeat for Argentine Trungelliti, means he takes his wait for a third ATP Challenger title into Week 2 of Rwanda Challenger, which begins on Sunday.

The final attracted a big crowd that included President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame.

President Paul Kagame and First Lady watched the final of of the Rwanda Challenger 50 Tour tournament on Saturday, March 2. Courtesy

Other attendees included African Tennis Confederation (CAT) President Jean Claude Talon, ATP Challenger Director Eric Lamquet, former French tennis player and musician Yannick Noah, Sports Minister Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju and Rwanda Tennis Federation President Theoneste Karenzi among others.

After his win, Majchrzak said, "I am so happy to win here in Kigali. Thanks to the organizers and all Rwandans for your support."

"I have enjoyed playing here and I will definitely come back [next week]," he noted, as the crowd gave him a standing ovation.

In doubles final, Max Houkes and Clément Tabur beat Pruchya Isaro and Christopher Rungkat to win the title 6-3, 7-6(4).

Majchzark will be looking to defend his title when Rwanda Challenger returns to action with Week 2 which gets underway at Kigali Ecology Tennis Club on Monday, March 4

The draw and qualifiers will both take place on Sunday, March 3.

Sports Minister Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju hands over the trophy to Rwanda Challenger 50 Tour champion Majchrzak
Kamil Majchrzak won the first week of the Rwanda Challenger 50 Tour tournament on Saturday, March 2. Courtesy
French former tennis star Yannick Noah speaks during the closing ceremony of Rwanda Challenger 50 Tour week 1 on Saturday-courtesy
Champion Majchrzak
Trungelliti had a tough opponent in Majchrzak who beat him 6-4, 6-4 to claim the Rwanda Challenger 50 Tour week 1 final-courtesy