Tuesday’s 6-3 6-2 victory over Congolese Victor Yene Balekambaka saw Rwandan youngster Claude Ishimwe proceed to the round of 16 of the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors Grade 4 (J60) tournament. READ ALSO: Ishimwe, Shakur win ITF Junior tennis doubles The first week of the competition is underway at Kigali Ecology Tennis Club from Monday, August 14, and will run through Friday, August 15. Ishimwe in April won the ITF Juniors competition in doubles categories after and he and his Burundian counterpart Malik Abdoul Shakur beat Indian duo Vraj Gohil and Aum Parik Hermassi 6-3 3-6 10-5 in a tournament that took place in Kampala, Uganda. He now wants to use the home advantage to win the competition in the singles category in Kigali. Ishimwe enjoyed a bright start to the campaign winning two straight sets in what was apparently an easy win. The 16-year-old won the first set 6-3 to take control of the game which he took home after winning the second and decisive set 6-2 to set a round of 16 date with Indian Rurik Rajini on Wednesday. “I may have won but it was not an easy game as some may think,” Ishimwe said after the game. “When I was 5-0 ahead in the second set, I was just one score away from winning the game. I kind of neglected but I realized that it wasn’t going to be easy when the opponent pulled two back. I put more effort into winning the match,” he added. Commenting on his next opponent in the round of 16, the youngster said, “I am going to face a player who I really know well. We met in Kampala during the past competition where I was Number 2 behind him. I am looking forward to it.” Ishimwe’s countryman, Junior Hakizumwami, however, had a day to forget as bowed out of the competition in early stages after suffering a shock 0-6 1-6 defeat to Czech Republican youngster Jonas Kucera. Kucera is among four former ITF juniors champions gracing the competition in Kigali. Others include German Tamina Kochta, French Elena Michel France and Zosia Bielus from Moldova. Rwanda was chosen as the ITF World Tennis Tour Grade 4 (J60) host after successfully hosting the ITF World Tennis Tour Grade 5 (J30) held in May. The ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors gives players aged 18 and under the opportunity to travel the world and develop their talent in Tennis. The first week of the competition in Kigali has attracted 44 boys from 16 countries and 25 girls from 14 countries from across the globe. . Rwanda records the highest representation in boys competition with 10 players while India (5) is the highest represented in girls category.
