The national tennis team skipper, Bertin Karenzi, is optimistic that Rwanda has all it takes to win the 2022 Davis Cup Africa Group IV tournament going on in Kigali for them to retain their Group C status in ITF rankings. The hosts are unbeaten in the past two matches against Group A rivals Uganda and Tanzania, and a win over South Sudan on Friday would see them progress to the final of the tournament. The competition concludes Saturday, July 9, at the Ecology Tennis Club, located at IPRC-Kigali. “I have never played against a South Sudanese opponent but my teammate [Ernest] Habiyambere played against them in the past and he beat them. It does not mean that he is going to beat them again this time but we trust each other, we trust him… he will do it and I, on my part, will try to win my game. We are confident,” the US-based player told Times Sport in interview. Should Rwanda make it to the final, they are likely to face either Democratic Republic of Congo or Togo who are tussling it out to lead Group B that also comprises Angola, Congo-Brazzaville and Botswana. “We have to pay attention with DR Congo or Togo. We could play one of them in the final. They have played really good tennis so far, we have to be careful about them,” Karenzi warned. Karenzi’s Tennis level has incredibly improved in different aspects since he moved to the United States in February after he secured a tennis scholarship programme at Morgan State University. The youngster said he has improved most in serving, and, very noticeably, his powerful services have been too tough for opponents to return at the underway tournament in Kigali. “When I got there [Morgan State University], the first thing I spent much time working on was serving. I would serve at least two baskets of 200 balls every day,” he said. “You know I am short and, naturally, I used to have a bad serve, but I beat the odds and that is the thing that helped me beat my Tanzanian opponent,” he added. Rwanda is represented by five players; skipper Karenzi, Etienne Niyigena, Ernest Habiyambere, Joshua Muhire and Junior Hakizumwami. The hosts were upgraded to Group C after the country finished second during the Davis Cup Zone V Qualifiers held in Congo-Brazzaville in 2019, but, dropped back to Group D a year later after struggling to impress in different continental assignments. With Karenzi and Habiyambere taking the lead, the players are now banking on the home advantage the Davis Cup for a historic first time. editor@newtimesrwanda.com
