Duncan favourite for Kigali leg

Thierry Ntwali, an official in the local tennis governing body (RTF) has challenged Rwanda’s top seed Jean Claude Gasigwa to prove his worth when the second leg of the East African Money Circuit gets underway this Thursday in Kigali.

Gasigwa, who won last year’s Kigali leg, fell short last week in Burundi after a 2-6, 5-7 semi-final defeat against Zimbabwe’s Martin Dzuwa.

Uganda’s tennis ace Duncan Mugabe won the Burundi leg with ease and has been widely tipped to repeat his heroics in Kigali.

After thrashing Rwanda’s Claude Habyambere (6-1, 6-1) in the semi-finals, the Ugandan swept aside Zimbabwean veteran Martin Dzuwa 6-1 6-3 in Sunday’s final.

Mugabe, whose target is to break into the top 500 Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings this year has by far played more competitive tennis than Gasigwa since last year and the bookies are widely backing him to win the Kigali leg.

After his radiating performances last year, not even Ntwali, the technical director of RTF could deny his immense chances in Kigali.

"Usually, it’s difficult to judge but from the way Mugabe has been playing, he has the upper hand,” Ntwali conceded.
Gasigwa won last year’s Kigali leg but the odds are not in his favour and Ntwali has challenged him to come to the fore.

"There is no doubt that Gasigwa has immense talent but it’s time for him to prove it by winning such tournaments,” the official continued.

The Kigali leg will be held at Umubano hotel courts and is expected to cost about $6000 (approx. Frw3.36 millions). 

Similar to the Burundi leg, players from Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and hosts Rwanda will be in the fray.

The circuit wraps up next week in Uganda with the third and final leg.

Ends