Rwanda’s national women tennis team is in intensive training sessions as preparations for the highly-anticipated Billie Jean King Cup, due in Kigali from June 5-11, take shape. READ ALSO: Tennis: Rwanda national team set for Billie Jean King Cup in Lithuania A five-woman squad of Olive Tuyisenge, Gisele Umumararangu, Sonia Tuyishime, Chantal Mutuyimana and Grace Gisubizo Ndahunga has been training together at Kigali Ecology Club since Monday, May 8, as the girls look to impress on home soil and make sure the cup stays in Kigali. “We’re prepared to compete for the Billie Jean Cup, we have two good coaches who are helping us so the preparations are progressing really well,” said Tuyisenge. “We’ve got some experience from the last edition held in Lithuania in 2021 and now we’re very confident because we are going to compete in it before our home supporters. READ ALSO: Karenzi sheds light on 2023 Tennis Genocide Memorial tourney We (players) are all fine and ready to compete for this title with the support of our coaches, federation and the country,” she added. A total of 11 African countries have confirmed their participation at the Billie Jean King Cup 2023 which is coming to the African continent for the first time. They include Angola, Congo, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Senegal, Tanzania and Rwanda who won the hosting rights for the tournament’s inaugural edition. Rwandan players selected in the national team will participate in the Tennis Genocide Memorial Tournament slated for May 15-20 at the Kigali Ecology Club (IPRC Kigali). It is a tournament which the girls believe will help them raise their game in the buildup for the Billie Jean King Cup. The Billie Jean King Cup is one of six major international tennis tournaments that Rwanda will host in 2023. The competition was named after Billie Jean King, an American former world No. 1 professional tennis player who won 39 Grand Slam titles including 12 in singles, 16 in women's doubles, and 11 in mixed doubles.
