Tennis duo confirmed for Bujumbura tourney

RWANDAN top tennis players Dieudonne Habiyambere and Jean Claude Gasigwa will play in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Futures tournament at the Entetive Sportive courts in Bujumbura, Burundi from November 9-19.The national tennis federation chairman Theoneste Karenzi confirmed to Times Sport on Monday. “Rwanda will be represented by top seeds Gasigwa and Habiyambere. We have already confirmed their participation to the tournament organizers,” Karenzi revealed.Habiyambere said yesterday, “We are training regularly at Cercle Sportif in Rugunga and I hope to be in good shape ahead of the event.”Gasigwa, who was due to compete in Zambia Open last weekend, do so after delaying to reach Lusaka in time for the event.Both players will be aiming to be consistent as they start off with qualifiers before contesting for the main event, which is worth US$10,000 (Rwf6.2m) in cash prizes. At least 31 other players are participating.From Bujumbura, the duo will return to Kigali for the second leg tournament, from November 19-26.Habiyambere ousted Uganda’s teenage sensation David Oringa 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in the quarterfinal of the Rwanda ITF/CAT Prize money circuit at the Umbano Hotel Courts last month. He, however, lost to Gasigwa in the all-Rwandan final 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.The pair will be aiming to improve on last year’s performances where all Rwandan players failed to make it to the second round.

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Tennis duo confirmed for Bujumbura tourney