No Surprises At Smashers Challenge Cup, Nairobi

The 3^rd edition of the Smashers Challenge over the weekend at Sadili Oval Sports Academy had a turn   open singles, and reaching the semi-finals, losing to eventual winner Ibrahim Hakizimana (Burundi), who beat Charles Ochieng (Kenya) narrowly on a final super tie-break (10-4), to lift the overall Under 14 title. In the Boys U16, Ronax Otieno downed hard-fighting talent, Wycliff Okenye 3/6,6/1,10/4, then retired to favourite Frank Tayebwa in the final. The boys Under 18 saw favorites Henry Ayesiga and compatriot John Lutaya sail through to the finals, with Henry winning 6-1 6-3 with crisp, well appointed strokes.

out of extremely strong junior players from the region. Saturday saw Winnie Birungi (Uganda) and Hoziana Kikambala (Burundi) make quick work of their opponents, setting the stage for the under 12 girls finals, which Winnie took confidently. Winnie also showed that she is ready for anything when she signed up for the mixed Under 14s

The Smashers Challenge is a Level B tournament for top juniors in the Tennis Africa Cup ranking (www.tennisafrica.info) and recognized by the Nairobi County Tennis Association

Winnie Birungi returns with fire

RESULTS

GSU-12

Winnie Birungi v/s Hoziana Kitambala 6/2,6/1

Winnie Birungi v/s Aziza Manarakiza 6/0,6/0

Winnie Birungi v/s Sauda Akimana 6/0,6/0

Hoziana Kitambala v/s Aziza Manarakiza 6/0,6/1

Hoziana Kitambala v/s Sauda Akiamana 6/0,6/1

Aziza Manarakiza v/s Sauda Akimana 2/6,1/6

Winner:Winnie Birungi

Runner-up:Hoziana Kitambala

BSU-14

Charles Ochieng stays consistent

Pool A

Ibrahim Hakizimana v/s Charles Ochieng 6/0,6/2

Ibrahim Hakizimana v/s Hoziana Kitambala 6/1,6/0

Charles Ochieng v/s Hoziana Kitambala 6/4,6/3

1^st Ibrahim Hakizimana

2^nd Charles Ochieng

Pool B

Antony Owita v/s Elizabeth Aluoch 6/3,6/2

Antony Owita v/s Winnie Birungi 6/3,6/2

Elizabeth Aluoch v/s Winnie Birungi 3/6,2/6

1^st Antony Owita

2^nd Winnie Birungi

BS 14
Tennis Tournament Planner - www.tournamentsoftware.com
	Semifinals	Final	Winner
1	Ibrahim Hakizimana
		Ibrahim Hakizimana
2	Winnie Birungi	6-1 6-1
			Ibrahim Hakizimana
3	Ochieng Charles		6-4 5-7 [10-4]
		Ochieng Charles
4	Owiti Antony	w.o.

 

Ibrahim Hakizimana in a pensive moment

Wycliff displayed improved form

BSU-16

Ronex Otieno v/s Sylvester Juma 7/5,6/2

Ronex Otieno v/s Frank Tyebwa w/o

Ronex Otieno v/s Wycliffe Okenye 3/6,6/1,10/4

Sylvester Juma v/s Frank Tayebwa 1/6,2/6

Sylvester Juma v/s Wycliffe Okenye

Frank Tayebwa v/s Wycliffe Okenye 6/3,6/4

Winner: Frank Tayebwa

Runner-up: Ronax Otieno

BSU-18

Pool A

Henry Ayesiga v/s Sylvester Juma 6/1,6/3

Henry Ayesiga v/s Frank Tayebwa 6/1,6/2

Sylvester Juma v/s Frank Tayebwa 1/6,2/6

1^st Henry Ayesiga

2^nd Frank Tayebwa

Pool B

John Lutaaya v/s Ronax Otieno 6/4,6/3

John Lutaaya v/s Wycliffe Okenye 6/1,5/7,10/7

John Lutaaya settling into his new game style

John Lutaaya v/s Emmanuel Omondi 6/0,6/1

Ronax Otieno v/s Wycliffe Okenye 3/6,6/1,10/4

Ronax Otieno v/s Emmanuel Omondi 5/7,7/5,10/4

Wycliffe Okenye v/s Emmanuel Omondi 6/1,6/2

1^st John Lutaaya

2^nd Ronax Otieno

BS18
Tennis Tournament Planner - www.tournamentsoftware.com
	Semifinals	Final	Winner
1	Henry Ayesiga
		Henry Ayesiga
2	Otieno Ronex	w.o.
			Henry Ayesiga
3	Frank Tayebwa		6-1 6-3
		John Lutaaya
4	John Lutaaya	7-5 6-2

Henry: Clean, Concise, Confident

New Talent At Sadili Win Bronze For Kenya

Davis Matanda powered his way through to the Boys U12 singles quarterfinals of the ITF/CAT KIA Motors Junior Competitions in Mahe, Seychelles, trouncing Denzel Laporte 6-0 6-0. His team mate, Antony Hoka followed suite, easily flying past Arnold Mein (Seychelles) 6-1 6-1 to set up a quarterfinal match against Reunion Number 2 and third seed, Samuel Verbard, where he lost 6-0 6-0.

Davis Matanda In Action

Matanda later played against Seychelles number 2 and fourth seed Shaun Andriamaro, losing in a long tough quarterfinal match that was not reflected in the final scores, 1-6, 1-6. Both boys finally settled on position 7 (David) and 8 (Antony).

Davis and Antony partnered to beat Noah Jean-Louis/Christian Payet (Seychelles) 6-3 6-2 to reach the boys doubles semi-finals, where they met Damien/Shaun (sey), losing 1-6, 3-6. They then went on to overpower Seychelles to win Kenya their first bronze medal of the boys under 12s this year.

The boys singles champion was Damien Laporte (Sey), who neat favourite Cement Esparon  6-1, 6-2, while Samuel Verbard (Reunion) dispensed of Shaun Andriamaro (Sey) 6-0 6-1 to life the bronze medal.

TEAM SADILI RETURN FROM A SUCCESSFUL EAST AFRICA CIRCUIT

Shebani Kabura

Sadili Oval Sports Academy’s upcoming Juniors Shebani Kabura (Bdi), Josephat Garo (Ken), Olivier Kigotho (Ken) and Sada Nahimana (Bdi), will today return following a three-week stint of continental tournaments, in which they showed stellar performance, at the ITF/CAT Junior Tennis Circuit that began in Bujumbura, Burundi and concluded today in Kigali, Rwanda.

In the First leg of the Boys 14 and Under, Olivier Kigotho beat Nzeyimana Karim (Bdi) 6/0 6/1, before losing to Alosha Chikanda (Zim) 2/6 4/6 in the pre-quarters. He then beat Sullemani Omari (Tan) 6/3 6/1 and Ibrahim Sadiki (Tan) 7/5 7/6 (4) to earn an honorable 11^th place, the best position of any Kenyan in the tournament. Newcomer Josephat Garo (Ken) lost his first round match to experienced Hazikimana Mupenda 3/6 4/6, before rallying to beat Reuben Njuguna Kimani (Ken) to earn 18^th place out of 36.  Shebani Kabura (Bdi), beat Hakizimana Mupendwa (Bdi) 6/4 2/6 6/1, Rajabu Ntamba (Bdi) 3/6 6/4 6/4, and Shabani Kasalo (Bdi) 6/4 6/3 to reach the finals, losing to Erneste Habyambere 3/6 6/3 2/6 in a closely contested match, earning a final 2^nd place out of 32 players.

Sada Nahimana

In the First leg of the Girls 14 and Under, 10 year old Sada Nahimana beat Abigael Tate-Harte (Ken) 6/1 5/7 6/0, Prudence Theuri (Ken) 6/0 6/1, and Aisha Niyonkuru (Bdi) 6/2 6/3 topping group B and qualifying for the play-offs, where she trounced Oliva Tuyisenge (Rwa) 6/0 6/0 and finally losing in the finals to take second place against 14 year old Mariam Mujawimana (Bdi) 7/5 3/6 0/6. In the 2^nd Leg of the Girls 14 and Under Nahimana, once again, dispensed confidently with all opposition before losing in the finals to Mariam, and earning second place. Her final leg in Rwanda, was her biggest test, and an exhausted but determined fight ensued, with Sada beating Oliva Tuyisenge (Rwa) 6/2 6/3, Alida Bella Mugisha (Bdi) 6/4 6/3, and July Nkatha (Ken) 6/1 6/3 in the group stages, she then beat Aisha Niyonkuru (Bdi) 6/0 3/6 6/1 in the semis, then lost, once again in the finals, to Mariam Mujawimana (Bdi) 3/6 3/6 to earn an overall second place in the tournament.

       

Olivier Kigotho

In the 2^nd leg of the Boys 14 and Under, Olivier Kigotho dispensed with Billy Nkingi (Bdi) 61/ 6/2 to prepare for a marathon match against his team mate and second seeded Shebani Kabura, losing closely 6/7 (4) 1/6. He then rallied to beat Kimani (Ken) 6/0 6/4, before losing to Hakizimana Mupenda 4/6 2/6 to take 14^th place out of 32 players. He later improved in confidence on the hot clay courts on Rwanda during the third and final leg, earning tenth place after beating Jonathan Giru Mugisha 6/1 6/2 and Sadick Ibrahim Shabani (Tan) 6/1 3/6 10/6. His team mate, Josephat Garo, also fought hard and long but was unable to dispense with Hakizimana, losing in three close sets 6/4 6/7 (4) 5/7, finally beating Abdoul Nzeyimana (Bdi) 6/0 6/0 to take position 21 out of 32 in the second tournament in Burundi. In Rwanda, Garo improved to 19^th place. Shebani beat Alosha Chikanda (Zim) 6/4 6/3 in the quarters, losing closely to Shebani Kasalo (Bdi) 5/7 6/4 6/7 (2) in a well-fought semi-finals. He then beat Nicodemus Mallya (Tan) 6/3 6/1 to earn third place overall. He struck out in the final tournament in Rwanda to determined to improve his scores, dispensing with Tanzanians Sadick Ibrahim and Emmanuel Mallya 6/62 and 6/3 6/1, respectively, only to meet a retiring Shabani Kasalo in the semis, and walking into a tough final against Saidi Nkurunzinza 4/6 6/4 4/6 to take second place, and earn a big chance to the Masters Tournament scheduled for later this year.