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

Kasombo Tops For Kenya In Regional Tennis Open

Spectators were treated to an exciting time at the EA Junior Open when the Boys U-18 saw Robert Kasombo (Kenya) beat John Lutaaya (Uganda) 6-4 6-4, to lift the title.  Kasombo had earlier overcome Josephat Garo (Kenya) 7-6(4) 7-6(1)  in a close semi-finals,while John Lutaaya (Uganda), upset top seed Amon Muinde 3-6 6-4 [10-7]  in another close encounter. The finals was a serious clash of wills, with Kasombo eventually prevailing 6-4 6-4. The pair of brothers (dubbed the "Nzuki Brothers") Kasombo/Muinde, showed a sign of great wins to come for Kenya, when they beat Garo/Lutaaya 6-2 7-5 in what spectators agreed was the most exciting doubles finals in recent past.

The Boys U-16 was an all-Ugandan affair, with Frank Tayebwa beating Boris Aguma 7-5 6-4 to lift the title from a field of 16 of the best boys from the region. Ian Okungu (Kenya) won the Boys-U12 ahead of compatriot Solomon Maloba (Kenya), while Antony Owita (Kenya) took the books U-14 with 40 points with Davis Matanda (Kenya) as runner-up with 30 points.

In the girls U-14, Saidat Kemugisha (Uganda) took on Winnie Birungi (Uganda) in the semi-finals, winning 6-3 6-4 before dominating over Elizabeth Aluoch (Kenya) 6-2 6-2 to win the title with ease. Saidat/Birungi took home the G-U14 Doubles for Uganda.

Other results included the following:

Girls U-8 Singles: Winner: Angela Luanga, Rup: Princess Diana

Boys U10 Singles: Winner: Juma Evans, Rup: Alex Mweti

Girls U10 Singles: Winner: Mary Asiko, Rup: Sharon Anyango

The EA Safari Junior Tennis Camp and the Junior Open is the main platform for juniors from within the region to showcase their talent, in order to receive technical support as well as compete for limited scholarships available every four years at the Sadili Africa Talent Training Academy. Recipients of the 6 scholarships available will be announced at the beginning of September 2013.

The EA Junior Open is a level B ranking tournament recognized by the Tennis Africa Cup (www.tennisafrica.info).