Forty-eight hours after facing each other in the ATP Challenger 75 final in Kigali, Joel Schwaerzler and Stefano Napolitano will meet again—this time in the first round of the Rwanda Challenger 100 on Tuesday, March 10, at IPRC-Kigali Ecology Tennis Club.

Napolitano enjoyed an impressive run from the qualifying rounds to the final, but his title hopes were dashed by the Austrian, who lifted the Challenger trophy after defeating him 7–6(5), 7–6(6).

ALSO READ: Schwaerzler defeats Napolitano to lift first Challenger title in Kigali

Rain interrupted Saturday’s final with Schwaerzler leading 7–6(5), 2–3, forcing the match to be completed the following day. When play resumed on Sunday, the Austrian maintained his composure to close out the thrilling two-day final with back-to-back tie-break wins.

Iradukunda enters main draw

Meanwhile, Burundi’s Guy Orly Iradukunda became the only East African player to qualify for the Rwanda Challenger 100 main draw after defeating Serbia’s Stefan Latinovic in straight sets 6–1, 7–5 on Monday.

Iradukunda will now face former French Open semifinalist Marco Cecchinato in the first round on Tuesday at 10:00 am.

ALSO READ: Schwaerzler admits tough transition from hard court to clay in Kigali

Other matches

Second seed Arthur Gea, who reached the Challenger 75 semifinals, also returns to action on Tuesday where he will face wildcard Cesar Bouchelaghem.

Elsewhere, Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena will take on Eero Vasa.

Tuesday’s Order of Play

Centre Court

10 AM: Marco Cecchinato vs Guy Orly Iradukunda

Followed by: Eliakim Coulibaly vs Corentin Denolly

Followed by: Joel Schwaerzler vs Stefano Napolitano

Court 1

10 AM: Sandro Kopp vs Calvin Hemery

Followed by: Roberto Carballes Baena vs Eero Vasa

Followed by: Cesar Bouchelaghem vs Arthur Gea

Court 2

10 AM: Max Houkes vs Luka Pavlovic

Followed by: Ryan Nijboer vs Filip Cristian Jianu

Followed by: Florent Bax vs Maximilian Neuchrist

Court 3

10 AM: Maik Steiner vs Jay Clarke

Followed by: Alexander Donski vs Garrett Johns

Followed by: Gabriele Pennaforti vs Sean Cuenin