Gasigwa out of Tanzania Open

Financial constraints have ruled Rwanda’s top seed Jean Claude Gasigwa out of this year’s Tanzania Tennis Open set for July 24-27 at Gymkhana Club, Dar es Salaam. Gasigwa told Times Sport over the weekend that he can’t afford to meet the tournament’s expenses. “The Tanzania Open is q big tournament which (ideally) I’d have loved to participate in but at the same time it requires enough facilitation that unfortunately I don’t have,” Gasigwa said on Saturday.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Top seed Jean Claude Gasigwa during the Rwanda leg of the ITF, CAT Money Circuit two months ago. (File Photo).

Financial constraints have ruled Rwanda’s top seed Jean Claude Gasigwa out of this year’s Tanzania Tennis Open set for July 24-27 at Gymkhana Club, Dar es Salaam.

Gasigwa told Times Sport over the weekend that he can’t afford to meet the tournament’s expenses.

"The Tanzania Open is q big tournament which (ideally) I’d have loved to participate in but at the same time it requires enough facilitation that unfortunately I don’t have,” Gasigwa said on Saturday.

Gasigwa, 25, is the leading tennis player in the country following his recent form which saw seen him take part in several International Tennis Federation/Confederation of African Tennis Money Circuits in the region.

The last time he triumphed was during the ITF/CAT money circuit which was held in Kenya in May where he beat Zimbabwe’s Martin Dzuwa 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 to claim the men singles event.

The three-day tournament which gets underway on Thursday, July 24 is sponsored by Tanga Cement Company to a tune of $7,750 (for prize money).

The singles event winners with the exception of veteran and mixed doubles would be entitled to $1000 while doubles winners will take home $500.

Ends