Monday’s Order of Play
Center court
S. Kozlov (USA) vs I. Denisov (RUS) 10:am CAT
(WC) G. Iradukunda (BDI) vs (Alt) A. Quakaa (EGY) - Not before 11:30 am CAT
C. Denolly (FRA) vs J. Sheehy (USA)
Court 1
(Alt) K. Stevenson (CAN) vs (Alt) Akram El Sallaly (EGY) 10:00 am CAT
F. Bax (FRA) vs S. Watanabe (JPN) - Not before 12:30 am CAT
O. Yshai. (ISR) vs J. Paz (ARG)
Court 2
K. Majchrzak (POL) vs L. Bouquet (FRA) 10:00 amCAT
(5) C. Tabur (FRA) vs E. Voinsin (FRA) - Not before 11:30 am CAT
Court 3
N. Schachter (USA) vs J. Lyeons (USA) 10:30 am CAT
(Alt) T. Fancutt (AUS) vs L. Sheyngzikht (BUL) - Not before 11:30 am CAT
Top seed Ivan Gakhov is hoping for better fortunes in Week 2 of Rwanda Challenger, having lost in the first round of the just-concluded Week 1 showpiece.
The Russian will begin his campaign against a qualifier in round one on Tuesday at the Kigali Ecology Tennis Club.
Asked how he is prepared physically, but especially mentally, having lost on day 1 last week, Gakhov told Times Sport that, "The target is to play well, and get the best possible result. Obviously, it was tough in the first round, tiebreak third, it was a long match (three hours), never easy."
"(After that) the only thing I could do is prepare good practice with my coach. We have practiced and we have got to focus on good quality of the game and hopefully the result is going to be better," noted the world number 172.
Gakhov, 27, bowed out of Rwanda Challenger 50 Tour after losing to eventual Italian Gabriel Pennaforti in three sets 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(3).
The Russian has a career high ATP singles ranking of world No. 142 achieved in June 2023. He has won one ATP Challenger title in singles at the 2023 Girona Challenger.
He will face a qualifier this time round, unlike last week when he came up against a player from the Main Draw.
So, does it makes any difference? "No, because two semi-finalists and the winner of last week are playing qualifiers, it might be a march against them in the first round, so I am prepared for that," Gakhov told Times Sport.
About playing a high altitude, Gakhov, playing in Sub-Saharan Africa for the first time, said, "It is tough, my first time in my career playing at 1000m, first time playing with not normal balls, I actually Iike playing at altitude but it's not same as playing 800(m) than 1500m. I am still trying to adapt with string tension, and then I should change or not my shots."
"It's a new experience, so I want to win some matches to get more comfortable, I think, in the future, it might be the type of condition that I might like," the top seed noted.
All but one of the eight seeded players will play their first-round matches on Tuesday. Only Clement Tabur (5) will be in action on Monday.
The Frenchman, who won the Week 1 doubles title with Dutchman Max Houkes, will be up against compatriot Emilie Voisin on Monday, on Court 2.
The first match of Rwanda Challenger Week 2 will pit Amarican Stefan Kozlov, semi-finalist from Week 1, against Russian Ivan Denisov, on center court.
Burundian wildcard Guy Orly Iradukunda faces Egyptian Aziz Quakaa (alternate), while the third match on center court will be between Frenchman Corentin Denolly and Joshua Sheehy (USA).
Week 1 winner Kamil Majchrzak on Sunday beat Rwanda’s wild card Junior Hakizumwami 6-1, 6-0 in just 52 minutes in the qualifying round. The Pole will now face Frenchman Lucas Bouquet in the first round on Monday, on Court 2.
Another Rwandan Etienne Niyigena lost to Thomas Fancutt 6-0, 6-2. The Austrian will next take on Leonid Sheyngzikht (BUL) in round one on Monday.
Sheyngzikht beat Rwanda's Claude Ishimwe 6-1, 6-3 on Sunday while Joshua Muhire lost 6-0, 6-1 to Amarican Noah Schachter in 46 minutes. Schachter set up a first-round clash with compatriot Jaycer Lyeons.
The host nation’a only player in the Main Draw, Ernest Habiyambere (WC), will play his first-round match on Tuesday against Israeli David Cukierman, the same player, who beat him at the same stage in week 1.