Rwanda has been handed hosting rights for the prestigious ATP Challenger 75 Tour, Times Sport can confirm. The two-week tennis tournament will run from February 24 through March 9, 2025, at the IPRC-Kigali Ecology Tennis Club. This marks a significant step forward for the country following the successful organization of the ATP Challenger 50 event earlier this year. It is understood that the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) was impressed by a successful ATP Challenger 50 Tour held in Rwanda between February 26 and March 10. Polish tennis ace Kamil Majchrzak won the first week of the tournament, defeating Argentina’s Marco Trungelliti in the final, winning in straight sets (6-4, 6-4) in a final witnessed by a notable audience, including President Paul Kagame, First Lady Jeannette Kagame, and legendary French tennis star Yannick Noah, the 1983 Roland Garros champion. Trungelliti came back to claim the second week. He avenged his first-week loss by defeating Majchrzak in the semifinals (6-3, 6-4) before claiming the title with a decisive victory over France’s Clement Tabur in the final (6-4, 6-2). The 2025 event will take place over two action-packed weeks, with the first week scheduled from February 24 to March 1 and the second week running from March 3 to 9. The tournament, part of the Professional Tennis Association's (ATP) Challenger series, will see players compete for valuable 75 ATP points, helping them climb the rankings and earn qualifications for ATP Tour events and Grand Slams. Earlier this year, Rwanda made history as the first sub-Saharan African country to host an ATP Challenger 50 event. It brought together over 60 professional players, showcasing competitive tennis action at its finest. ALSO READ: Why we should all celebrate success of ATP Rwanda Challenger The upcoming ATP Challenger 75 Tour is expected to attract even stronger competition, providing local fans with the chance to watch high-level tennis while positioning Rwanda as a key destination for sports tourism. Matches will feature a mix of rising talents and seasoned players striving to break into the top 100 ATP rankings. Hosting events like the ATP Challenger not only brings global recognition to Rwanda but also inspires young athletes to pursue tennis at a professional level. With world-class players, competitive matches, and a growing local fan base, the event is a significant step toward making tennis a major sport in the region.
