When Thierry Ntwali was honoured with the prestigious International Trailblazer Award at the 2025 Tennis Black List awards at The Queen’s Club in London last week, it was more than a personal accolade. To those who recognize the (positive) impact he has had on the growth and development of the sport — it was a celebration of a decade-plus-long journey that has transformed tennis in Rwanda and the wider East and Central African region. Ntwali was celebrated alongside a star-studded list of winners including Naomi Osaka (Japan), Madison Keys (USA) and Angella Okutoyii (Kenya). Not bad company by any standard. But, while names like Osaka and Keys might steal the headlines, it’s the work of people like Ntwali — largely behind the scenes — that has paved the way for a growing tennis culture in parts of Africa where the sport was once barely visible. As someone I have seen, and known to have committed his life to the development of tennis, Ntwali's recognition underscores his deep impact, especially in Rwanda, where he has been the driving force behind the sport’s evolution. Ntwali, who served as the Rwanda Tennis Federation's (FRT) technical director for so many years before his appointment in 2011 as the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Development Officer for East and Central Africa, has played a pivotal role in shaping the region into a vibrant tennis centre. His contribution goes far beyond trophies and tournaments; rather, it represents infrastructure, opportunity, and a redefined future for African tennis. For that, he deserves the flowers. Again, as someone with knowledge of Rwandan tennis, and a few workings behind the curtains, I think one of Ntwali’s biggest achievements was his key role in bringing the ATP Challenger Tour to Rwanda. Once a distant dream, Kigali now proudly hosts ATP Challenger 50, 75 and 100 events, putting the country on the international tennis calendar. These tournaments are not just symbolic — they provide vital ATP ranking points, attract global talent, and offer local players unprecedented opportunities to compete at home against world-class opponents. “It was historic,” Ntwali reflected. “Seeing Rwanda host top-tier professional events showed the world that East Africa is ready to be a key player in international tennis.” This success didn’t come overnight. It was the product of years of behind the scenes work, collaboration with international federations, and investment in capacity-building. Rwandan tennis, and the region at large, is still work in progress but, the building blocks are in the foundation, thanks in no small part, to the commitment and sacrifice of Ntwali in putting in place the bits end piece of a functioning Rwanda Tennis Federation (FRT). Under Ntwali’s guidance, Rwanda and neighbouring countries like Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania have become strongholds for junior and professional tennis. The region now hosts over 31 weeks of ITF Junior Tour events and 10 weeks of World Tennis Tour Men’s and Women’s competitions annually. After years of working closely with him during my years as a journalist with The New Tines, and as a personal friend, I believe that the real power of Ntwali’s legacy lies in the foundation he has built — one rooted in participation, education, and sustainability. More than 7,000 children across the region are now part of the ITF’s Junior Tennis Initiative (JTI), giving young players their first exposure to the sport. This grassroots boom has been essential to achieving the ITF’s “30 by 30” goal, aimed at increasing global participation. The 30 by 30 goal refers to increasing the number of people playing tennis worldwide by 30 million, aiming for a total of 120 million players by 2030. Coach development has also soared under Ntwali’s leadership as the ITF regional Development Officer. More coaches than ever from East and Central Africa are now earning elite ITF certifications, empowering them to develop the next generation of high-performing players. These coaches, many of whom were once participants in development programs themselves, now stand among the best on the continent. In Rwanda, his legacy is especially profound. He’s the architect behind many national successes — not just in competition, but in infrastructure and visibility. He hasn't worked alone, but hey, this article is about Ntwali, (no offense to others), for it's he, who sat on that big stage at The Queen’s Club in London, the home of Wimbledon. From helping national associations secure dedicated tennis facilities to ensuring consistent programming across urban and rural communities, Ntwali’s fingerprints are on nearly every major advancement in the sport. Emerging stars like Sada Nahimana and Okutoyi — both East African standouts on the global stage — are testaments to the effectiveness of the developmental framework he championed. Nahimana, 24, is a Burundian player whose career-high singles ranking of world No. 233, reached on 26 May 2025. She has a best combined junior ranking of 12. Nahimana made her WTA Tour main-draw debut at the 2018 Rabat Grand Prix, partnering with Egyptian Sandra Samir in doubles. Meanwhile, Okutoyi became the first Kenyan to win a Grand Slam (doubles) title at the girls’ juniors Wimbledon event, partnering Rose Marie Nijkamp. At the 2022 Australian Open, the 21-year-old, now based in Alabama, US, became the first Kenyan to win a girls’ junior singles Grand Slam match. “It shines a light on the often-unseen efforts taking place to grow the game in communities where tennis is still emerging,” Ntwali said during his acceptance speech. He further acknowledged that, “With commitment and collaboration, we can break barriers and create lasting change.” While Ntwali may not be a household name, his work is directly responsible for putting Rwanda and the East African region on the global tennis map. As the Tennis Black List rightly recognised, he is a trailblazer, but also — and perhaps more importantly — an unsung hero of Rwanda, and East and Central African tennis. In the years to come, as more Rwandan and East African players rise through the ranks, much of their success will trace back to a man who saw what tennis could become — and quietly worked to make it real. That man is Thierry Ntwali.
