The quest for Rwanda to be promoted to the Africa Zone Group II has been dealt a blow as the race for Group III Davis Cup title heats up in Nairobi, Kenya. Rwanda suffered a second defeat on Thursday, losing 3-0 to Benin, the highest-ranked team at the week-long tournament. Benin signaled their intention to avoid a repeat of last year’s play-off agony, when Ntcha Delmas fought hard to overcome Rwanda’s Etienne Niyigena in two sets (7-5, 6-3) in the Group A, rubber 1 opening game. In the other singles match on clay rubber 2, Alexis Klegou was also a convincing 6-2, 6-2 winner over Rwanda’s topseed Ernest Habiyambere. Felix Hounkpevi and Magloire Yakpa made light work of Hamisi Gatete and Olivier Havugimana to earn a deservedly easy win in doubles category. The defeat means, Rwanda still sits at the bottom of the group, with no point in two games played so far. Rwanda’s quartet will now face another winless team, Cameroon, in their last Group A campaign Friday. The winner of this pool will play-off against the runner up of Pool B (A1 v B2 and B1 v A2) to determine which two nations are promoted to Europe/Africa Zone Group II effective 2019. Editorial@newtimes.co.rw
