Etienne Niyigena and Gisele Umumararungu claimed the 2024 men and women’s Tennis Genocide Memorial Tournament which concluded at IPRC-Kigali Ecology tennis courts on Sunday, May 26. ALSO READ: Tennis Federation commemorates Genocide as GMT tourney kicks off The weeklong tournament, which ran from May 17, is organised by the local tennis governing body (RTF) in honor of victims slain during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. In the men's final, Niyigena triumphed over Joshua Muhire in three sets 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 to claim the title while Umumararungu defeated Olive Tuyisenge 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 win the women’s tournament. Both women are among the six players set to represent Rwanda at the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup. In the men’s amateur singles, Innocent Rukundo won the tournament after a 6-4, 6-2 win over Evan McDougall. Marie Von Kirchmann won the women’s amateur singles title, dominating Margaret Vernon 6-0, 6-0. The mixed amateur doubles saw Antony Hachez and Pauline Jacobs emerge victorious against Quentin Dussart and Marie von Kirchmann with a 9-4 win. In the wheelchair singles category, Jean Luc Dusengimana won the men's final, defeating Viator Dusabimana 6-0, 6-2, while Yvonne Imaniraguha secured the women’s title by beating Yvonne Imanishimwe 6-4, 6-3. Rwanda Tennis Federation President Theoneste Karenzi lauded the participants and promised an even better tournament next year. “This was a competitive and memorable tournament. I thank all participants, especially the winners. This tournament honors the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis, particularly the sportsmen and sportswomen who played tennis,” Karenzi told Times Sport. Karenzi also announced plans to organise the inaugural Kwibohora Tennis Tournament, set to take place in July on the occasion of liberation day celebrations. Former tennis player and genocide survivor Joseline Umulisa expressed her gratitude towards the organisers, saying that, “This beautiful tournament helps us remember those we lost in the genocide and supports survivors in their journey of recovery.”
