Rwanda number one Etienne Niyigena and Carine Nishimwe emerged victorious in the men’s and women’s singles categories of the 2026 Genocide Memorial Tennis Tournament, which concluded on Saturday at the IPRC-Kigali Ecology Tennis Court. Organised annually by the Rwanda Tennis Federation, the tournament serves as a tribute to tennis players and officials who lost their lives during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The week-long competition featured professional men’s and women’s singles, wheelchair singles, amateur singles, and doubles events. In the men’s professional singles final, Niyigena defeated David Manzi Rwamucyo 7-6(5), 6-4 to claim the title. Nishimwe was equally dominant in the women’s final, cruising past Rano Tuyishime 6-0, 6-1. In the amateur men’s singles category, Ratun Matjaz overcame Innocent Rukundo 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, while Zawadi Umuhoza defeated Gloria Umutoni 6-2, 6-3 to secure the women’s title. The men’s doubles crown went to Antony Hanchez and Sean Buckley, who edged Livingstone Mugisha and Juvens Hakorimana 6-4, 2-6, 10-6 in a closely contested final. In the senior amateur men’s doubles category, Innocent Gashugi and Elson Mucyurabuhoro were crowned champions. Jean Baptiste Mutabazi and Caripophore Ntagungira finished runners-up, while Augustin Gatera and Alphonse Katarebe claimed third place. In the wheelchair professional competition, Yvonne Imaniragena secured the women’s singles title with a commanding 6-1, 6-0 victory over Faith Mutesi. In the men’s division, Emmanuel Hakizimana defeated Ernest Ndayishimiye 6-1, 6-1 to lift the championship trophy.
