The second edition of the I&M Bank Open Tennis Tournament was officially launched at Cercle Sportif de Kigali (CSK) on Monday, October 26, bringing together players and members of the tennis community from clubs across the city.
The tournament, which runs across two weeks until November 8, was launched by I&M Bank Rwanda Chief Executive Officer Benjamin Mutimura, alongside Rwanda Tennis Federation (RTF) President Theoneste Karenzi and other guests.
The main competition got underway on Tuesday, with players competing in the men’s, women’s and junior categories.
The men’s amateur singles draw features 64 players representing clubs across Rwanda, including Nyarutarama Tennis Club, Cercle Sportif de Kigali, IPRC Kicukiro, Kanombe Tennis Club, Nyamata Tennis Club and Vision City Tennis Club.
The launch programme featured a doubles exhibition match involving experienced players. Before the exhibition, Mutimura also took to the court for a few minutes, joining the activities marking the tournament’s return.
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The exhibition match saw the pair of Dieudonné Habiyambere and Christian Hamiss defeat Sylvain Rutikanga and Eric Bimenyimana Uwamahoro in straight sets, winning 4-3, 4-3.
The I&M Bank Open provides local players with an opportunity to test their skills, gain competitive experience and face opponents from different clubs. It also brings together members of the tennis community to promote the sport and encourage wider participation.
I&M Bank Rwanda’s sponsorship highlights the role of private-sector partnerships in supporting sports development and creating opportunities for athletes. The bank has previously supported tennis competitions and international events, including ATP Challenger tournaments held in Kigali.
Speaking at the launch, Mutimura said the bank’s involvement in sports was part of its commitment to youth development and building stronger relationships with customers.
"Our commitment to youth development and strengthening relationships with our customers aligns with the values associated with sport, including discipline, teamwork, commitment and performance,” he said.
Mutimura also emphasised the bank’s commitment to supporting tennis development across different groups, particularly children and women, while helping aspiring players progress in the sport.
"We want to push children forward, push women forward, and also support those who are striving to progress in the sport. We are ready to work with you to help tennis develop across all categories,” he said.
He added that the bank was keen to collaborate with tennis stakeholders to sustain the sport’s growth.
"We are honoured to see the society in which we operate progress,” Mutimura said.
Consistent sponsorship is important to the development of tennis, helping create more opportunities for players to compete, raise the sport’s profile and encourage greater participation. Local tournaments also provide a platform for players to sharpen their skills and gain experience as they work towards higher levels of competition.
Tournament organiser Alex Filos Byiringiro said players were selected based on their rankings and seeding, with support from the Rwanda Tennis Federation.
"We are proud to launch the second edition of the I&M Bank Open Tennis Tournament,” Filos said, reiterating the importance of providing players with opportunities to compete.
The competition is scheduled to continue at CSK through November 8, with matches across the men’s, women’s and junior categories.
Rwanda has continued to host international tennis competitions, including ATP Challenger events, providing local players and fans with opportunities to engage with the sport at different levels.
The return of the I&M Bank Open for a second edition adds to the country’s tennis calendar and underscores the importance of partnerships between sports organisers and private-sector institutions in supporting the growth of tennis in Rwanda.