Poland’s tennis star Kamil Majchrzak has expressed his excitement after putting his name in ATP history books as the first winner of the Rwanda Challenger tournament and hopes to add Week 2 title to his ATP Challenger trophy collection.
The 28-year-old came from entering the tournament on a wildcard to lifting the trophy after beating fourth seed Argentine Marco Trungelliti 6-4, 6-4 in Saturday's final held at Kigali Ecology Tennis Club.
"I am very happy to be the champion of the first Rwanda Challenger, which makes me even happier. The match was very difficult, the score was 6-4, 6-4 but the entire game was very difficult, I had to fight for every point," Majchrzak told Times Sport in a post-match interview.
He noted that, "Marco put very difficult conditions today on court, he had a great game though, in the end, it was me who took the important points."
"But in general it was a challenging match, a very challenging tournament, so I am really happy to be the champion. I hope week 2 will be as successful," he added.
It is a fifth ATP Challenger title for the Polish player and his first major trophy since returning to the Tour at the start of 2024 after finishing his 13-month ban for alleged doping.
The final was attended by a big crowd including President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame.
Other notable 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.
Majchrzak, who was playing in his seventh tournament since January, also noted that, "I am so happy to win here in Kigali. Thanks to the organizers and all the support.
"I have enjoyed playing here and I will definitely come back," he noted, as the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
On top of the trophy and 50 ATP points, the champion also took home $5,660 (over Rwf 7.2 million) in prize money.
It’s a final match that didn’t go according to plan for ‘disappointed’ Trungelliti who was seeking his third ATP Challenger title. His mother could barely sit as she watched her son lose the final.
"I had my chances, I had a break in the first set but I couldn't hold it, that's it."
Asked how tough his opponent was, he said, "He (Majchrzak) is a very good player, he's a former top 100 player, he knows how to play the game. He also adapted to the condition very well here. He found a way to play good tennis."
Elsewhere, Max Houkes/Clement Tabur beat Pruchya Isaro/Christopher Rungkat to win the doubles title 6-3, 7-6(4).
Draw for Week 2
There won’t be a break as Rwanda Challenger Week 2 gets underway on Sunday with qualifiers matches. The main draw matches will begin on Monday. The draw took place Saturday evening at Park Inn Hotel.
Russian Ivan Gakhov is still the top seed, and will face a qualifier, while Week 1 winner, Majchrzak, will still have to play Rwanda’s Junior Hakizumwami in the qualifiers to earn a place in the main draw.
Full draw
> (1)Ivan Gakhov (RUS) vs Qualifier >David Pichler (AUS) vs Qualifier >Qualifier vs Qualifier >Gabriele Pennaforti (ITA) vs (7) Benjamin Lock (ZIM) >(4) Marco Trungelliti (ARG) vs Jacob Bumm (USA) >Dev. SD Prajwal (IND) vs Qualifier >Oliel Yshai (ISR) vs Juan Pablo Paz (ARG) >Mohamed Safwat (EGY) vs Max Houkes (NED) >(5) Clément Tabur (FRA) vs Emilien Voisin (FRA) >Hernán Casanova (ARG) vs Qualifier >Corentin Denolly (FRA) vs Joshua Sheehy (USA) >(3) Calvin Hemery (FRA) vs Bogdan Robrov (RUS) >(6) Nicholas David Ionel vs Damien Wenger >(WC) Guy Orly Iradukunda (BDI) vs Aziz Quakaa (EGY) >David Cukierman (ISR) vs Ernest Habiyambere (RWA) >(2) Aziz Dougaz (EGY) vs Alafia Ayeni (USA)