Trio march into Junior Circuit semis

Quarter final resultsYesterdayU-14 boys’ categoryHabiyambere (Rwa) bt R. Ntamba (Bur) 6-4 6-1Nkurunziza (Bur) bt Menard (Tan) 6-2 6-3Kasalo (Bur) bt J. Ndibwami (Rwa) 6-2 6-2Kabura (Bur) bt E. Mallya (Ken) 6-1 6-1Girls’ categoryF. Tuyisenge (Rwa) bt J. Nkatha (Ken) 7-5 6-2A. Niyonkuru (Bur) bt M. Mujawamariya (Bur) 6-1 7-5Tate-Harte (Ken) bt M. Theuri (Ken) 6-0 6-1 S. Nahimana (Bur) bt Mugisha (Bur) 6-4 6-3 U-12 Boys’ categoryTuyishime (Rwa) bt J. Kaze (Bur) 6-1 6-3Ndahiro (Rwa) bt E. Temba (Tan) 6-4 6-3 RWANDA’s trio of Ernest Habiyambere, Bryan Ndahiro and Fabrice Tuyishime cruised into the semi finals of the third leg of the ITF/CAT 14 and Under African junior circuit which is ongoing at Cercle Sportif Rugunga, Kigali City.Big serving Habiyambere ousted Burundi’s Rajab Ntamba in the quarter finals in straight sets 6-4, 6-1. And after his latest victory, Habiyambere said, “This was not an easy match for me despite the win. Ntamba plays so well but I think my serving helped me to control the match.”Habiyambere will face another Burundian Saidi Nkurunziza, who beat Frank Menard of Tanzania 6-2, 6-3, in today’s semi final match. This will be the second time both players are meeting at this stage. Habiyambere beat Nkurunziza 6-3, 6-2 in the first leg of the tournament held in Bujumbura and he admits beating his Burundian opponent twice in the same competition in as many weeks will not be an easy task.“I beat him in the first leg and I expect to face a stern challenge against him in tomorrow’s (today) semi final. But I’m confident and ready for anyone at this stage. I am eyeing the title and I must be in good shape to face anyone,” noted Habiyambere, the winner of the first two legs which were played in Bujumbura.In the other quarter final matches, Shaban Kasalo of Burundi ejected Rwanda’s Jules Ndibwami 6-2, 6-2, while Kenya’s Emmanuel Mallya lost to Burundian Shaban Kabura 1-6, 1-6. In the girls’ category, Francine Tuyisenge secured a semi final berth after beating Kenya’s Judith Nkatha 7-5, 6-2, while Burundian Aissa Niyonkuru dispatched compatriot Mariam Mujawamariya 6-1, 7-5.Kenya’s Abigail Tate-Harte defeated compatriot Maria Theuri 6-0, 6-1 and Saada Nahimana (Burundi) eliminated Mugisha (Burundi) after a 6-4, 6-3 victory.In the U-12 boy’s category, Fabrice Tuyishime takes on seed two Abdoul Shakur Kabura of Tanzania in today’s semi final after eliminating Burundian Jonathan Kaze 6-1, 6-3 at Amahoro stadium.Bryana Ndahiro became the third Rwandan to reach the last four following a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Tanzania’s Emmanuel Temba. Ndahiro faces Jonathan Mugisha of Burundi, who is this category’s top seed.The tournament ends tomorrow.

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Trio march into Junior Circuit semis