Rwanda is setting its sights on becoming a tennis tournament hotspot, with plans to host various major tournaments in 2024, including the famous Davis Cup. In 2023, Rwanda hosted six international tournaments, a development that officials hope to build on during the new year. Speaking to Times Sport, Theoneste Karenzi, President of the local tennis federation, said the application process for hosting various tournaments has already begun and discussions underway with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to secure the hosting rights for the competitions that were previously held in Rwanda. Notable tournaments hosted in Rwanda this year include the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors, Africa Group IV of the Billie Jean King Cup, and the Davis Cup Group IV tournament. He highlighted that the federation's main objective is to nurture young talents and foster their development by providing them with ample opportunities to compete against the best. He also noted that Rwanda aims to position itself as a sports tourism hub in tennis as well, following in the footsteps of basketball and cycling. Hosting sports tournaments has brought significant economic benefits to Rwanda, creating jobs for its citizens, and presenting players with the opportunity to gain invaluable experience and knowledge from competing in such high-profile events. Karenzi expressed pride that Rwanda managed to host both the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup in the same year. He noted that it showcases Rwanda's growing prominence in the tennis world and its commitment to elevating the sport within the country. Going forward, he talked about plans to grow the game in the country. “Our plan is to establish a consistent annual tennis league, similar to what happens in football or basketball. We want to increase the number of tournaments, whether they are local, regional, or international, to provide more opportunities for players to compete and develop their skills,” he said. As such endeavours take shape, one of the main challenges that is faced is the lack of high-level coaches in Rwanda. “We are exploring ways to bring in experienced coaches from outside and also enhance the capacities of our local coaches,” Karenzi noted. “Financial stability is also a challenge, as we need sufficient funds to implement our plans effectively. Additionally, the lack of enough tennis courts hinders our ability to host larger tournaments,” he added.
