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
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	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

Sadili Oval, Kenya Celebrates World Tennis Day

The Hustlers

Five teams of 5 players each, competed in the tournament, with a bevy 60 of excited spectators from  lending support to their favorite players. Each team had a full range of the players from the 8-9 year old to the 20-24 year old, with both boys and girls taking part.

The Hustlers won the event, with Puma and Virimani taking 2nd place. Well done all!

TEAM LIST

	ROLAND GARROS
SINGLES	SYLVESTER JUMA
DOUBLES	YASIN LILA
A	ROBERT KASOMBO
DOUBLES	BELINDA AWINO
B	GARO JOSPHAT
	VIRIMANI
SINGLES	IBRAHIM HAKIZIMANA
DOUBLES	LUTAAYA JOHN
A	HOZIANE KITAMBALA
DOUBLES	JAMIN LUVEMBE
B	SAUDA AKIMANA
	PUMA
SINGLES	WYCLIFF OKENYE
DOUBLES	CHIZI MUTSUMI
A	AMON MUINDE
DOUBLES	COACH RAJABU
B	WINNIE BIRUNGI
	PHANTOMS
SINGLES	AYESIGA HENRY
DOUBLES	DAVIS MATANDA
A	RONEX OTIENO
DOUBLES	ANTONY OWITA
B	EVE NGOLI
	HUSTLERS
SINGLES	FRANK TAYEBWA
DOUBLES	DAVID MUKHWANA
A	CHARLES OCHIENG
DOUBLES	RICHARD OOKO
B	ELIZABETH ALUOCH

RESULTS

	SINGLES	DBLES A	DBLES B	PTS	POSITION
HUSTLERS	9	3	12	24	1
VIRIMANI (ON THE HILLS)	3	12	6	21	2
PUMA	6	6	9	21	2
PHANTOMS	12	3	0	15	4
ROLAND GARROS	0	6	3	9	5

Henry Ayesiga Earns Scholarship To Top US Tennis Academy

Henry Ayesiga of Sadili Africa Talent Training Academy (SATTA), has begun a three-week training stint at The Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland, in what will be a major boost to his tennis career. The Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) is a world class training program located in Washington DC Metropolitan Area, and was founded in 1999 to provide opportunities to talented junior players from diverse backgrounds. to date, JTCC has been home to 11 national champions in the past 5 years, including Denis Kudla, Junior Ore and Mitchell Frank, who are three of the top U16 Boys in the world. JTCC also boasts five athletes, currently playing professional circuits. JTCC is the USTA's first recognized Regional Tennis Training Center.

Henry on clay court at JTCC

Says HeadPro and Director at Sadili, Dr. Liz Odera, "Henry has worked very hard and remained discipline and consistent. Our new partnership with JTCC, courtesy of NJTL National Manager, Dan Limbago, has ensured that we can finally give him and chance of a lifetime, to train with some of the best in the world." Henry Ayesiga has been the ended 2011 at Number 2 in Under 14 Boys in the Confederation of Africa Tennis (CAT) ranking. He is also the National Secondary Schools Sports Association 2013 Boys Singles Champion and helped his school win the Boys Title at the East Africa School Games in August. Says Henry, "I love my tennis, and I always look for new challenges. Going to JTCC is a big eye opener for me, and I really thank Dan and Dr. Liz for working hard to get this wonderful opportunity, but also Amolo and Carlos for believing in me". Asked if he hopes to become a professional player, Henry hesitates and then says slowly, "Don't get me wrong, I love tennis. But I think I also need to get a good education, so college tennis is the direction for me."

Sadili Oval Sports Academy, a not-for-profit, holds an NJTL - USTA honorary recognition for the great work done with children's tennis and education in East Africa. Sadili remains the most successful tennis academy in the region, producing a large majority of the junior stars, while offering them an opportunity for a solid education. 

Malezi Team Lift The National Tennis Award 2013!

Defending Champions, Malezi School, partner of Sadili Talent Training Academy, led by captain, Jamin Luvembe, once again lifted the National Schools Secondary Sports Association trophy, after trouncing

all opposition to reach the finals of the boys singles, boys doubles and girls doubles, as representative team from the Metropolitan Games. In the Boys Singles semi-finals, Henry Ayesiga 

singles, Henry beat Aberdare Player 1 in  2 sets to 0 of 4-2 4-1, then advanced to the finals where he trounced team mate Isiah Etale 4-1 4-0 to complete an undefeated run.

The Girls Doubles saw the first pair of Melissa Brown/Chizi Mutsumi down Lake Region in 2 straight sets 4-0 4-1 in the semifinals, before pushing for a quick finals against Nzoia, which they won 4-0 4-0.
The boys doubles had last year's undefeated pair JaminLuvembe/John Lutaaya, who quickly dispatched of Nakuru 4-1 4-0, and barely broke sweat to down Lake Region 4-0 4-0.

Tennis will, for the first time ever, feature in the East African Ball Games, and the players, who will be undergoing further training at Sadili Oval Sports Academy, will be pleased to represent Kenya and Malezi School there, from 22nd August to 2nd September 2013. Says their coach Dr. Liz Odera, "We will need to stay focused throughout and prepare well, so that we can perform to the best of our ability, and bring the trophy home."

As national champions for over 11 years, why not?

Malezi Hold Firm At Nationals As They Head to Tennis Semis

Jamin Luvembe

Henry Ayesiga (Boys Player 1), Chizi Mutsumi /Melissa Brown (girls doubles), JaminLuvembe/John Lutaaya (boys doubles) continue to brave the rain, as they march to the semi-fianls at this year's Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA), Term 2 National Ball Games held in Embu. In the boys singles, Malezi remains unbeaten as Henry does not drop a single game, trouncing Nzoia 4-0, Nakuru 4-0 and Lake Region 4-0.

The Girls Doubles Team Of Chizi/Melissa have played and won two matches, winning against Central 4-2, and Nakuru 4-1.

Jamin/John have not disappointed the fans, as they mauled Lake Region  4-0, Nzoia 4-0 and  Eastern 4-1 in their run to the semi-finals, which will be played tomorrow.

Upsets At The Langata Junior Tennis Championships

LANGATA JUNIOR TENNIS CHIAMPIONSHIP

The Langata Junior Championships at Sadili Oval Sports Academy was today hit with major upsets when KLTA top-ranked player and Under 18 Boys number 1 seed, Sheil Kotecha lost to Sadili Oval’s John Lutaaya in a surprising twist of events, in which both players won a set each and settled down to closing it off with a super set that Lutaaya won 10-7.  

Sheil Kotecha lost in final set to John Lutaaya

The other major upset saw 2^nd seed Robert Kasombo Nzuki, lose to 3^rd seed Henry Ayesiga 6/2 7/6 (7).  Impala’s Marie Owino grabbed the Girls U14 beating Tonia Kubai 6.3 6/3, while Sadili’s Belinda Awino showed her dominance in the Girls Under 12 against team mate Alice Ayoma 6/2 6/2. Newest young talent from the Kibera slums, Charles Ochieng, overcame Impala’s Jacobs Sergelen 6/1 6/4 to lift the Boys Under 12 6/1 6/4.

Henry Ayesiga is through to Boys U18 Finals

The Boys Under 18, pitting fourth seed Amon Muinde, against Henry Ayesiga, will be played tomorrow morning.

This tournament is the first of a series of events in the Nairobi County Tennis Association, that will be run in various parts of the city.

BSU-12

Charles Ochieng v/s Jacobs Sergelen 6/1,6/4

Ian Okungu v/s Peter Kiama 2/6,6/7(5)

Charles Ochieng v/s Ian Okungu 6/0,6/0

Peter Kiama v/s Jacobs Sergelen 2/6,1/6

Ian Okungu v/s Jacobs Sergelen not played Jacobs lost

Winner: Charles Ochieng

Runner-up: Jacobs Sergelen

GSU-12

Alice Ayoma v/s Belinda Awino 3/6,2/6

 Winner: Belinda Awino

 Runner-up: Alice Ayoma

BSU-14

Jain Anchit v/s Antony Owita 1/6,1/6

Jain Anchit v/s Charles Ochieng 0/6,0/6

Jain Anchit v/s Davis Matanda 0/6,1/6

Antony Owita v/s Charles Ochieng 6/1,6/2

Antony Owita v/s Davis Matanda 6/4,6/1

Marie Owino Wins Girls Under 14

Charles Ochieng v/s Davis Matanda 3/6,2/6

Winner:Antony Owita

Runner-up: Davis Matanda

GSU-14

Elizabeth Aluoch v/s Marie Owino 0/6,3/6

Marie Owino v/s Tonia Kubai 6/3,6/3

Elizabeth Aluoch v/s Tonia Kubai 1/6,3/6

Winner: Marie Owino

Runner-up:Tonia Kubai

BSU-18

Sheil Kotecha v/s John Lutaaya 6/7(5),7/5[7-10]

Ronax Otieno v/s Sylvester Juma 3/6,6/3[10-7]

Henry Ayesiga v/s Randiek Randall 6/2,6/3

Randiek Randall v/s David Mukhwana 6/1,6/3

Wycliffe Okenye v/s Josephat Garo 2/6,7/6(4)[10-7]

Langata Junior Tennis Championships
BS 18
Tennis Tournament Planner - www.tournamentsoftware.com
	Round 1	Round 2	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final	Winner
1	Kotecha Sheil [1]
		Kotecha Sheil [1]
2	Bye 1
			John Lutaaya
3	Bye 9		6-7(5) 7-5 [10-7]
		John Lutaaya
4	John Lutaaya
				Muinde Amon [4]
5	Otieno Ronex			6-4 6-2
		Otieno Ronex
6	Juma Sylvester	3-6 6-3 [10-7]
			Muinde Amon [4]
7	Bye 12		6-2 6-2
		Muinde Amon [4]
8	Muinde Amon [4]
						1.
9	Ayesiga Henry [3]
		Ayesiga Henry [3]
10	Bye 11
			Ayesiga Henry [3]
11	Randiek Randall		6-2 6-3
		Randiek Randall
12	Mukhwana David	6-1 6-3
				Ayesiga Henry [3]
13	Okenye Wycliff			6-2 7-6(7)
		Okenye Wycliff
14	Garo Josphat	2-6 7-6(4) [10-7]
			Kasombo Robert [2]			2.
15	Bye 2		6-2 6-1
		Kasombo Robert [2]
16	Kasombo Robert [2]
BS 18 - Consolation
	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final
	Bye
		Bye
	Bye		Okenye Wycliff
		Okenye Wycliff
	Juma Sylvester
		Juma Sylvester
	Bye
		Randiek Randall
	Bye			John Lutaaya
		Mukhwana David
	Mukhwana David		Otieno Ronex
			4-2 2-4 [18-16]
		Otieno Ronex
	Garo Josphat
		Garo Josphat