Hosts Rwanda on Wednesday, July 6, beat Group A rivals Tanzania 3-0 to keep their unbeaten run in the Davis Cup by Rakuten Africa Group IV tournament which is underway at the Ecology Tennis Club at IPRC-Kigali.

The hosts outsmarted Tanzania in all matches of the day through in-form duo Ernest Habiyambere, Bertin Karenzi who each won their singles over Tanzania’s Omari Harris Sulle and Frank Mshanga respectively to help the national team record their second win of the tournament and keep their hopes of progressing to the final that will decide who will be promoted to the ITF Group C rankings.

Habiyambere won the first game for Rwanda with a 2-0 (6-2, 6-2) win over Tanzania’s Sulle before Karenzi gave his team a second victory of the match after thrashing Mshanga 2-0 (6-4, 6-0) to take revenge over the Tanzanian who beat him in 2018 during the U-18 ITF tournament held in Kenya.  

"I really wanted to pay him back. He beat me in Kenya four years ago and I always kept it in my mind that this was the right occasion for revenge. I am now relieved and we hope to keep this form till the final,” Karenzi told Times Sport after the game.

Junior Hakizumwami and Etienne Niyigena also put on a classic display as they teamed up to beat Tanzania’s Rahim Rashd and Abubakar Risasi 2-0 (6-2, 6-0) to win the third game of the day.

Rwanda plays South Sudan next on Friday in a game that will decide who will progress to the final slated Saturday, July 9, which Rwanda hopes to win to retain their Group C ITF rankings.

"The boys are in good mood and, with their current form, we hope Rwanda is going to win this tournament no matter who they face,” observed Rwanda Tennis Federation president Theoneste Karenzi.