Gasigwa, Mugabe renew rivalry

KCB Kenya Tennis Open1/2 finalsJ.C Gasigwa (Rwa) v D. Mugabe (Uga)A. Cooper (Ken) v F. Rogoi (Ken) ¼ final resultsD. Mugabe beat M. Muchenje 6-2 6-2J. C Gasigwa beat D. Ochieng 6-4 6-2F. Rogoi beat G. Kibet 7-6(3) 6-3A. Cooper beat Y. Rawal 6-0 6-0 RWANDA’s top seed Jean Claude Gasigwa will renew his rivalry with Ugandan ace Duncan Mugabe when the KCB Kenya Open semi-finals take center stage at Nairobi Club Murram courts this afternoon. Mugabe is fresh from winning the ITF/CAT East Africa prize money Kampala leg but Gasigwa has played down the importance of that win. “Mugabe is a good player but I wouldn’t want to dwell so much on the Kampala win because conditions here (Nairobi) are different,” Gasigwa said before adding, “I have not been at my best in the money circuit but I know that if I play well, I can beat him.” Gasigwa stormed the last four after dislodging Kenya’s Dennis Ochieng 6-4 6-2 while Mugabe made light work of Zimbabwean Masimba Muchenje 6-2 6-2. The other semi-final is an all-Kenyan contest. Defending champion Allan Cooper takes on Francis Rogoi. At the quarter-finals, Cooper humiliated Yash Rawal in straight sets (6-0 6-0) to make his intentions clear. Rogoi dispatched Gilbert Kibet 7-6(3), 6-3 to set up a tough date with the defending champion Cooper. Rogoi is at pains to make it happen in Nairobi after coming so close in Bujumbura and Kigali. The Kenyan, who reached the semi-finals in Kampala, was a back to back losing finalist in Burundi and Rwanda. With an increase in prize money Khs750, 000 (Rwf6.8m), the men’s winner will pocket Sh85, 000 (Rwf0.76m) while the top female player will walk away with Sh75, 000 (0.68m). Ends

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Gasigwa, Mugabe renew rivalry