Habiyambere improves in the latest Tennis rankings

RWANDA’S TEENAGER Ernest Habiyambere has moved up to fifth place in Africa according to the current rankings released by the Confederation of African Tennis [CAT].

Saturday, March 30, 2013
Ernest Habiyambere led Rwandau2019s junior team at the African tennis championships in Nairobi but his run ended at the semifinal stage. Saturday Sport/File.

RWANDA’S TEENAGER Ernest Habiyambere has moved up to fifth place in Africa according to the current rankings released by the Confederation of African Tennis [CAT].The rankings were based on the overall performances of African players, who featured in the Africa Junior Championship which climaxed recently in Kenya.According to International Tennis Federation tournament’s referee Patrick Kamuhia, Habiyambere is ranked fifth with 165 points.He comes behind Tunisian Youssef Dabbebu, Elnimr Laila of Egypt; Richard Thongoana of South Africa and Ratsimandresy Andritoavina of Madagascar, who won the under-14 boys‘category title in Nairobi.Habiyambere, who was the only Rwandan in the main tournament, was eliminated in the semi finals of the Africa Junior Championship after losing to eventual winner Ratsimandresy in a tight match which ended 7-5, 7-5.With his incredible performance, the 13-year-old player has jumped from ninth to fifth position in two years. Last year, he was ranked sixth after winning the first two legs of the ITF/CAT 14 and under junior circuit played in Burundi, before finishing third in the third leg held in Kigali.In the under-16 category, Olive Uwimana and David Uwimana, who were eliminated in the first round, were ranked 18th after securing 9 and 12 points respectively.In the country ranking, Rwanda finished in 12th positions with 186 points. Kenya and Burundi were the best ranked East African countries settling for ninth and tenth positions respectively.South Africa topped the continent with 1650 points; followed by Egypt and Tunisia in second and third positions.