Rwandan pair advances to Rwanda Open semis

Friday Semifinals Women’s SinglesGisele Umumararungu (Rwa) vs Aisha Niyonkuru (Bur) - 9:30amShufaaa Changawa (Ken) vs Hosiana Kitambala (Bur) Men’s SinglesDuncan Mugabe (Uga) vs Olivier Havugimana (Rwa) - 11am Ismael David Oringa (Uga) vs Changawa Mzai (Ken) Rwanda’s titles hopeful Olivier Havugimana and Gisele Umumararungu have reached the semifinals of the ongoing Rwanda Tennis Open after winning their quarterfinal clashes on Thursday at Amahoro National Stadium courts. Rwandan Olivier Havugimana will meet Uganda’s top seed Duncan Mugabe in Friday’s semi-final. / Sam Ngendahimana Havugimana fought hard to beat his Rwandan nemesis Etienne Niyigena in a tight match, winning in three sets 4-6, 6-3 and 7-5. He will meet Uganda’s top seed Duncan Mugabe in Friday’s semis. In other quarter-finals Mugabe beat Rwandan Mubarak Harerimana 6-3, 6-2, DR. Congo’s top seed Christian Diamba lost against Ugandan David Oringa 7-5,7-4 (4) while Rwandan Dieudonne Habiyambere was eliminated by Kenyan Changawa Mzai 6-4, 6-1. In women’s category, Rwandan fourth seed Gisele Umumararungu beat her compatriot Joselyn Umulisa 2-6, 6-2 and 6-3 to set up a semi-final clash against Burundian second seed Aisha Niyonkuru. Gisele Umumararungu in action during Rwanda Open last year. Shufaa Changawa of Kenya beat Rwanda’s Olive Tuyisenge 6-2, 6-0, Hosiane Kitambala fron Burundi stunned Rwanda’s number one Megane Ingabire 6-2, 6-3 while Aisha Niyonkuru (BUR) won over Rwandan Chantal Mutuyimana 6-1, 6-2. In the last sixteen, Mugabe beat Issa Cyuma of Burundi 6-4, 6-4, Oringa won over Burundian Abdoulshakour Kabura 6-1, 6-3. Kabura had earlier on Tuesday eliminated Rwandan top seed Ernest Habiyambere in the preliminary round 6-4, 6-1. Dieudonne Habiyambere sealed a quarter-final round slot after defeating Ugandan Boris Iguma 6-1, 6-2 in a round of 16 played on Wednesday. In another match, Rwandan Etienne Niyigena edged out Kenyan Ibrahim Kibet 6-4, 7-5 to power into the quarters. The 2017 Rwanda Open attracted 143 players from Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Belgium, Italy, Tanzania, Sweden, Nepal, DR Congo and the hosts Rwanda,. The winners of the Singles title in both genders will take home US$1000 in prize money, while the doubles’ winners will get US$500, while the Wheelchair tennis champions will earn US$300. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Rwandan pair advances to Rwanda Open semis