By Peter Kamasa

Today

FinalWomenS. Changawa Vs A. Niyonkuru 10amMenD. Mugabe Vs C. Mzai D. Oringa 2pm

Semi-finalMenD. Mugabe (Uga) def O. Havugimana (Rwa)C. Mzai def D. Oringa (Uga)WomenS. Changawa (Ken) def H. Kitambala (Bur)A. Niyonkuru (Bur) def G. Umumararungu (Rwa)

There will be no Rwandan player in the final of the Men and Women’s singles of this year’s Rwanda Tennis Open scheduled for Saturday at Amahoro National Stadium courts.

Local hopefuls Olivier Havugimana and Gisèle Umumararungu lost their semifinals to Ugandan Duncan Mugabe and Burundian Aisha Niyonkuru on Friday.

Havugimana lost in straight sets against Uganda’s top seed Mugabe 6-1, 6-2 while in the other semi-final another Ugandan, David Oringa lost to Kenyan Changawa Mzai 6-1, 6-2.

In the Women’s second semi-final, Shufaa Changawa from Kenya defeated Burundi’s Hosiane Kitambala 6-2, 6-1.

In quarters, Havugimana fought hard coming from behind to beat his local nemesis Etienne Niyigena in a tight match, winning three sets 4-6, 6-3 and 7-5.

In other quarter-finals, Mugabe beat Rwandan Mubarak Harerimana 6-3, 6-2, DR. Congo’s top seed Christian Diamba lost against Ugandan David Oringa 7-5, 7-4 (4) while Rwandan Dieudonné Habiyambere was eliminated by Changawa Mzai 6-4, 6-1.

The 2017 Rwanda Open attracted 143 Tennis players from host Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Belgium, Italy, Tanzania, Sweden, Nepal and DR Congo.

The winners of the singles title in both genders will take home US$1000 in prize money, while the doubles’ winners will get US$500, while the Wheelchair tennis champions will earn US$300.