Rwanda men’s tennis team had a tough start to the 2024 Davis Cup Africa Group IV campaign as they suffered defeat to neighboring rivals Burundi in the opening tie in Luanda, Angola, on Wednesday, June 19.

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The four-day tournament is taking place at Academia de Tenis Kikuxi Villas Club in Luanda, attracting eight countries namely Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Algeria, Senegal, Cameroon, Rwanda, Burundi and host nation Angola.

It wasn’t a good start for Dieudonne Habiyambere’s men who lost the match in both singles and doubles.

Junior Hakizumwami lost the first singles to Burundi's Allan Gatoto 2-0 (6-0, 6-0) before Guy Orly Iradukunda came on to beat Etienne Niyigena 6-0, 6-1 to ensure the win for Burundi even before Gatoto returned to the court with Hassan Ndayishimiye to beat Joshua Muhire and Ernest Habiyambere 6-2, 6-2.

Rwanda will have to bounce back to keep their hopes of topping Group B when they return to action against DR Congo on Tuesday.

The Davis Cup is played in a round-robin format, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the promotion playoffs, while the bottom two teams will compete in the relegation playoffs.

The losers of the relegation playoff will play in Africa Group V effective 2025, while the finalists will secure promotion to Africa Group III.