Rwanda’s Olive Tuyisenge qualified for the women’s singles semifinals of the ongoing Rwanda Open 2022 after eliminating Joselyne Umulisa, another Rwanda tennis player, with a 2-0 (6-2,7-6) victory during Thursday’s quarter final encounter held at IPRC-Kigali Ecology Tennis Court.

Tuyisenge comfortably won her first set on 6-2 but Umulisa came in the second set looking to win it and force the game to the third set.

They nearly did as she had been leading the set but Tuyisenge, who knew a third set would cause troubles for her, held her head high and her resiliency paid off when she went on to win the set and become the first Rwandan to progress to the semifinals of women’s singles.

Other Rwandans who impressed include Olivier Havugimana who booked his ticket to the men’s singles quarter finals after beating Tanzanian Goodluck Shelemo Moliel 2-0 (6-1, 6-1) in the quarter finals.

Jean Luc Dusengimana beat Viator Dusabimana 2-0(7-5, 7-5) in the quarter finals of men’s wheelchair category to book his ticket to the semifinals while Carine Kwizera also progressed to the semifinals in the women’s wheelchair category after beating Tanzania’s Rehema Saidi Seleman.

It was, however, a day to forget for Rwandan hopeful Etienne Niyigena who crashed out of the tournament after losing to Congolese Junior Chiruza 0-2 (3-6, 1-6) in the men’s singles quarter finals.

The Rwanda Open 2022 has been taking place at IPRC-Kigali Ecology Tennis Club since Monday, December 12 and will run until Sunday, December 19.

The tournament attracted 97 tennis players from 12 countries including Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya, Nigeria, Germany, United States, Switzerland, India and DR Congo among others.