The names that have dominated the Rwanda Open on the ITF World Tennis Tour in recent years are set to return to Kigali. Frenchman Corentin Denolly and Dutchman Max Houkes, who both won M25 titles in Kigali in 2025, headline a strong early direct-entry list for the 2026 Rwanda Open. The tournament, scheduled for September 28 to October 11, will return to the RP Kigali College Tennis Courts for its fourth edition, bringing together players from Europe, Africa and beyond to compete for ATP ranking points on clay. The two-week tournament will feature two M25 events, with the first running from September 28 to October 4 and the second from October 6 to 11. Each week carries a $30,000 prize purse, equivalent to about Rwf45 million. Houkes, ranked 240th in the world, is currently the highest-ranked entrant and leads a strong field that includes France’s Florent Bax (303), Calvin Hemery (328) and three-time Rwanda Open champion Denolly (440). ALSO READ: Rwanda Open: Denolly overcomes Steiner to clinch third Kigali M25 title For Denolly, a return to Kigali carries special significance. The Frenchman has established himself as one of the tournament’s most successful players, winning the first-week title in 2024 before successfully defending it in 2025. He will now return seeking another title, but faces competition from another familiar champion. Houkes won the second M25 event in Kigali last year after advancing deep into the first week before going all the way in the second. Their return sets up another intriguing chapter between two players who have enjoyed considerable success on Kigali’s clay courts. ALSO READ: PHOTOS: Trungelliti beats Cecchinato to win second Challenger title in Kigali The competition, however, extends well beyond the two former champions. Other notable names on the early direct-entry list include Algeria’s Toufik Sahtali, South Africa’s Alec Beckley, Israel’s Yshai Oliel and Germany’s Marlon Vankan. The international line-up underlines the growing appeal of the Kigali event, which continues to provide a platform for players chasing ATP ranking points and seeking to climb the professional tennis ladder. For some competitors, the tournament will be about building on previous success. For others, it will offer an opportunity to make a breakthrough on the ITF circuit. For Rwanda’s tennis community, meanwhile, the event provides another chance to watch professional tennis at home. The return of Denolly and Houkes gives the 2026 Rwanda Open an intriguing storyline from the outset, with the three-time champion and last year’s second-week winner among the leading names expected to compete for honours in Kigali.
