All roads led to the lakeside town of Gisenyi on October 4 as the seventh edition of Rubavu Tennis Tournament swung into action.
Bringing together a record number of 70 participants, this year’s tournament proved to be the most anticipated tournament on Rwanda’s social tennis calendar.
Organized by Nyarutarama Tennis Club, this year’s tourney brought together a record eight clubs including Cercle Sportifs de Kigali, Ecology Tennis Club, Kanombe Tennis Club, Bugesera Tennis Club, Vision City Tennis Club, Rubavu Tennis Club and CIMERWA Tennis Club.
The tourney started in high gear, with the men’s and women’s singles. Early casualties included Kigalians Aimé Murwanashyaka and Alexis Byiringiro as well as the Rubavu stars of veteran Matonde, explosive Tchimanga, stylish Rhabia and debutante Belinda. Advancing were Peter Karake, Robert Makuza, Juvens Hakorimana, Aimé Rugwiza, Dinah E. Kwizera and Maureen Mutesi.
Day 2 of the Kivu Serena and CIMERWA-sponsored tournament was full of doubles action and pairs went head-to-head in the women’s category, mixed doubles and men’s categories. It was a battle of the fittest, physically and mentally, as many players had to endure playing as many as five matches in a day. Those that got to the fifth, didn’t walk away empty-handed.
It all boiled down to the juicy end as debutante Belinda Uwera paired with former number one Joselyn Umulisa to beat the experienced Rhabia Umuhoza and former Rwandan junior Maureen Mutesi to lift the women’s doubles trophy.
In the mixed-doubles category, tact combined with experience counted for crafty Jean Paul Rwabukumba and versatile Dinah Evelyn Kwizera overpowering the loud Alexis Byiringiro who had paired with the calm Alice Bugingo to win the trophy.
Tennis Rwanda Children’s Foundation founder Joselyn Umulisa was in serious winning moods where she insisted on participating in the men’s doubles category too.
Despite losing her partner, Damien Emile Ngabonziza (Papa Damien), to a knee injury, dangerous substitute Alex Shyaka did not disappoint. Umulisa and Shyaka were ruthless in taming tournament favourites Peter Karake and Olivier Rushemeza in the final to win the doubles category.
The women’s singles final was a hotly-contested affair.
With both Maureen Mutesi and Dinah Evelyn Kwizera having played representation tennis for Rwanda in their teenage years, there was a point to prove coming into the final. Mutesi had the better of Dinah throughout the match until Dinah broke to level 5-5 sending the match into a tie-break. Mutesi then lost composure allowing Dinah to clinch the trophy.
The much-anticipated men’s singles final lived up to expectations. Aimé Rugwiza was backed by an army of Rubavu fans and flamboyant Juvens Hakorimana wasn’t bothered by their noise. In a thrilling match of slices, top spins and winners, it was an evenly-balanced encounter. At 6 all, Juvens failed to hold his serve and off ran Aimé to a 9/6 win in 57 minutes.
At the prize-giving ceremony, Jonathan Cheres, the General Manager of Kivu Serena Hotel, thanked all participants for partaking in the tournament and pledged the hotel’s continued support for future editions of Rubavu Tennis Tournament.
On behalf of the host club, the President of Nyarutarama Tennis Club, Bart Gasana, thanked the participating clubs especially CIMERWA Tennis Club that came from very far to, not only participate, but also sponsor the tournament.