Frenchman Calvin Hemery claimed his first ITF M25 title after beating Zimbabwean Benjamin Lock in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 in the men’s singles final on Sunday at RP Kigali/Kicukiro Ecology Tennis Court. Hemery, 31, produced a composed performance to overcome Lock and lift the title on his first Rwanda Open appearance. The Frenchman controlled the match from the start, making the most of his opportunities to take the first set 6-3. Lock, who had impressed throughout the tournament as a wild-card entrant, tried to fight back in the second set, but Hemery remained in control and secured another 6-3 victory to seal the title. For Lock, the final marked the end of an impressive run in Kigali, where he emerged as the only African player to reach the singles final. A victory would have given him his first M25 title. In the doubles category, American pair Axel Nefve and Noah Schachter were crowned champions after defeating Burundian Allan Gatoto and Kenya’s Kael Shalin Shah 6-3, 6-2 in straight sets on Saturday. The Rwanda Open continues with its second week from Monday, October 5 to October 11, with another M25 tournament scheduled in Kigali.
