Rwandan junior tennis players endured a difficult start at the "ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors/Grade 4" tournament which kicked off on Monday at the IPRC Kigali courts.

All the six Rwandan participants who played on the opening day were not able to advance past the first preliminary round as they were beaten by their foreign counterparts.

The international competition, exclusively for players under 18, is taking place from August 12 to 24. It will span two weeks, with matches scheduled for August 12-17 and August 19-24.

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Rwanda is represented by a total of ten players at the competition — eight boys and two girls.

Gédéon Murinzi was the first to exit, losing 6-2, 6-1 to Burundian player Miki Nobel Igiraneza. Calvin Habiyambere followed suit, falling 6-2, 6-1 to Japan&039;s Dalya Hino.

Junior Hakizumwami fought hard but was ultimately defeated by Belgium’s Clement Wayters, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.

On the girls' side, Melissa Bimenyimana Ishimwe lost 6-2, 6-0 to Sweden’s Akers Mandipha.

Her compatriot Else Igiraneza was also defeated by Sabwe Kalulu 7-6(5), 6-2, while Thierrine Ineza was bested by Shakira Varese, 6-3, 6-1.

Rwanda’s only victory of the day came in the doubles category, where Hakizumwami teamed up with Burundi’s Allan Gatoto to secure a hard-fought win against Nigeria's Ganiyu Mubarak and Israel's Harel Tarshish, triumphing 7-6(4), 6-3.

The tournament is organised by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to help young players earn points towards their professional rankings.

The winner of the "ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors/Grade 4" will receive 60 points, with the runner-up earning 36 points, and semifinalists receiving 18 points.

Players reaching the quarterfinals will earn 10 points, while those advancing to the round of 16 will gain five points.