Rwanda’s hopes of winning gold in the Rwanda Tennis Open hinge on the women’s singles category as the four slots in the semi-finals are occupied by Rwandan players. The last four, taking place today at Amahoro Stadium, will be an all-Rwandan affair, while the mens category is mostly likely to remain a Kenyan contest, since only one Rwandan player – Olivier Havugimana – managed to reach the semi-finals. In Thursday’s quarter-finals, hopeful Joselyn Umulisa was the first to book a ticket to the semi-finals, and she takes on archrival and third seed Megame Ingabire in the battle for a spot to the title match. Umulisa dispatched Firdaus Cyiza 6-1 6-2 yesterday, while Ingabire saw off youngster Belyse Irakonze 6-0 6-2. I am ready to fight. Definitely she (Ingabire) should expect a good show from me, Umulisa told Times Sport on Thursday after acing her way to the semi-finals. By press time, another semi-finalist Caline Nishimwe, who edged out Gisele Umumararungu 7-6 (4) 6-3, was yet to know who she would be up against between Olive Tuyisenge and Rona Tuyishime. In the mens semi-finals, holder Ismael Changawa, of Kenya, takes on compatriot Ibrahim Kibet, while Rwanda top-seed Havugimana faces Kevin Cheruiyot, another Kenyan. After Friday’s semi-finals, Saturday will be a rest day before the week-long tournament concludes with the finals on Sunday.
