Despite winning last year’s Kigali leg, Rwanda’s top seed Jean Claude Gasigwa is seeded third at this year’s edition of the East African Money Circuit which starts today at Novotel courts. This stems from his semi-final exit in last week’s first leg in Bujumbura.

The Rwandan tennis ace lost to Zimbabwe’s veteran Martin Dzuwa 2-6, 5-7 and has everything to play for in his backyard.

Ahead of the Kigali leg, Gasigwa was challenged by the local tennis federation (RTF) to starting posting consistent results.

During a brief interview with the federation’s technical director Thierry Ntwali, he said that it is high time Gasigwa started getting consistent results.

"It is now that he has to prove that he is a quality player who can fight and win tournaments. I know that he is up against some top players like Mugabe and Dzuma but he is also a quality player and the least I expect from him is to get to the final,” Ntwali said. 

Dieudonne Habyambere, Rwanda’s other key player in the four-day tournament is seed four.

The 23-year-old also failed to get past the semi-finals in Burundi after losing in straight sets (1-6, 1-6) to eventual champion Duncan Mugabe.

Mugabe (Uganda) is the tournament top seed while Dzuma is seed two.

Over thirty players from Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Tanzania are expected to compete in the tournament.

Over the next two-three days, players will contest for $4,500 worth of cash prizes before heading to Uganda for the third and final leg.

Ends