Tuesday’s order of play

Center Court

B. Bobrov (RUS) vs (3) C. Hemery (FRA) 10:00 am CAT D. Cukierman (ISR) vs (WC) E. Habiyambere (RWA) - Not before 11:30 am CAT (1) I. Gakhov (RUS) vs (Q) K. Majchrzak (POL)

Court 1

A. Ayeni (USA) vs (2) Aziz Dogouz (TUN) 10:00 am CAT (Q) S. Kozlov (USA) vs (Q) N. Schachter (USA) - Not before 11:30 am CAT G. Pennaforti (ITA) vs (7) B. Lock (ZIM)

Court 2 M. Safwat (EGY) vs (8) M. Houkes (NED) 10:00 am CAT (Q) F. Bax (FRA) vs H. Casanova - Not before 11:00 am CAT (4) M. Trungelliti (ARG) vs Jacob Brumm

Court 3

(6) D. Ionel (ROM) vs D. Wenger 10:00 am CAT (Q) T. Fancutt (AUS) vs Dev SD Prajwal - Not before 11:30 am CAT (Q) A. EL Sallaly (EGY) vs D. Pichler (AUS)

Number 3 seed Calvin Hemery believes he is in a good position to play better tennis than in last week’s Rwanda Challenger 1, when he lost the 3rd round game to eventual champion Kamil Majchrzak.

The 28-year-old Frenchman takes on unseeded Russian Bogdan Bobrov in Tuesday’s first round of Rwanda Challenger 2.

Hemery, currently 216th on ATP singles ranking, admits the first week was too difficult to take, but insists he is prepared to put the disappointment behind as he looks to improve his performance in the second week campaign.

"First of all, I am happy that I lost to the winner of last week, I knew he was a tough opponent," Hemery told Times Sport.

"Honestly, I didn't play my best, I tried to fight until the end but he was a better player on the court. This week, I am feeling a little bit better, of course, after 10 days in Kigali, with the altitude, the (official) balls, I am not used to it."

"I am feeling better on court, more confident, so I hope it will help this week. I can't wait to start the tournament and hopefully am going to get this one."

Hemery knows the threat his next opponent and world number 374 Bobrov can pose but all he only looks forward to is taking the game home no matter what.

"Yeah, Bobrov is a very good player. I know it's not going to be easy; I will have to play my best as always. I can't wait to play this match, it's a good opportunity for me."

Hemery, bidding for a second ATP Challenger title, has a career high ATP singles ranking of 116 achieved in April 2018 while Bobrov has a career high ATP singles ranking of 329 achieved in June 2023.

"I can't wait for my next Challenger title, this is a good opportunity," the Frenchman said.

Meanwhile, Bobrov is still waiting to win his first ATP Challenger singles title to go with his five Futures titles.

The Russian has previously won one ATP Challenger doubles title at the 2023 Kiskút Open with Sergey Fomin.

However, the matchup between top seed Ivan Gakhov (Russia) and Week 1 winner Majchrzak promises to be the highlight of first round matches.

In an earlier interview, Gakhov had his fears about a potential Main Draw first round meeting with Majchrzak and so it came to pass.

Asked if it makes a difference to face a qualifier, the Russian said, "No, (because) two semi-finalists and the winner of last week played in the qualifiers, it might be against them in the first round, so I have to be prepared."

Majchrzak raced to the Main Draw after dismantling his opponents in the two qualifying matches.

The Pole started where he left off in week 1, first beating Rwanda's Junior Hakizumwami in two quick sets 6-1, 6-0 in Sunday’s game that lasted 52 minutes before defeating Frenchman Lucas Bouquet 6-0, 6-2 on Monday, in 56 minutes.

Majchrzak has his eyes on week 2 regardless of who he faces. He is looking to use his maturity and experience to go all the way and take it all at once.

"Yeah, it's a great tournament with great players. I am looking forward to competing again, I have a few matches in my legs but am ready to go as long as possible."

Elsewhere, Week 1 finalist Marco Trungelliti will face American Jacob Brumm in the first round on Tuesday.

Semi-finalist Stafen Kozlov (USA) beat Ivan Denisov (RUS) in another three sets match, 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 in two hours, 35 minutes to set up a first round clash with compatriot Noah Schachter who also beat Jaycer Lyeons (USA) 6-2, 6-1 in the final qualifying match on Monday.

Host nation's only player in the Main Draw, Ernest Habiyambere (WC), returns to the first-round action of week 2 on Tuesday against Israeli David Cukierman, the same player, who beat him at the same stage in week 1.

Denolly off to the next round, Iradukunda sent packing...

Meanwhile, seed five Clement Tabur (FRA) booked his ticket to the second round of Rwanda Challenger after beating his compatriot Emilien Voisin in the first round 6-1, 6-4 on Monday.

Tabur’s countryman Corentin Denolly also sailed through to the second round after seeing off American Joshua Sheehy 6-1, 6-4 in the first round. Denolly is the winner of last year's Rwanda Open M25 Week 2.

Juan Pablo Paz (ARG) booked his ticket to the next round after edging Israeli Oliel Yshai 6-2, 6-2 while Burundian wildcard Guy Orly Iradukunda missed out on chance to make it to the next round after losing a tiebreaker to Tunisian Aziz Quakaa (Alternate). Quakaa won the game 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(3).