Top seeds begin quest for $4500 prize money

First round resultsYesterdayM. Uwizeyimana (Rwa) bt. M. Myszkowsk (Fra) 6-2 7-6 (4)E. Uwamahoro (Rwa) bt. K.Cheruiyot (Ken) 6-2 6-3L. Rwandekwe (Rwa) bt. D. Nsabimana (Rwa) 7-5 6-3 M. Bizimana (Rwa) bt. J. Ndibwami (Rwa) 6-0 6-2I. Cuma (Bur) bt. M. Hakizimana (Bur) 6-4 6-2E. Karangwa (Rwa) bt. E. Ntawuhigana (Rwa) 7-5 6-2 E. Rukundo (Rwa) bt. K. Mwamba (Rwa) 6-4 6-2 A. Bizimana (Rwa) bt. S. Pierre (Fra) 6-1 6-0TodaySelected fixturesMen, Second roundP. Matong (Bot) vs E. Uwamahoro (Rwa)J.C Gasigwa (Rwa) vs M. Bizimana (Rwa)D. Oringa (Uga) vs A. Bizimana (Rwa)M. Uwizeyimana (Rwa) vs E. Karangwa (Rwa)Women, First roundC. Odour (Ken) vs F. Quiroga (Bol)G. Umumararungu (Rwa) vs C. Mutuyimana (Rwa)E. Otula (Ken) vs C. MukantwaliS. Changawa (Ken) vs F. Ciza (Rwa)SEED four Mathieu Uwizeyimana booked his spot in the first round of this year’s ITF/CAT prize money circuit tennis tournament after dispatching France’s Marc Myszkowsk yesterday at Umubano Hotel Courts.Uwizeyimana, who was among eight Rwandans who, by press time, were assured of a place in today’s first round, overpowered Myszkowsk 6-2, 7-6 (4).Other Rwandans in the first round include; Eric Uwamahoro, who overpowered Kenya’s Kevin Cheruiyot 6-2, 6-3, Lukumani Rwandekwe, who beat compatriot Daniel Nsabimana 7-5, 6-3, Melle Bizimana, 6-0, 6-2 winner over Jules Ndibwami. Eugene Karangwa defeated fellow Rwandan Eric Ntawuhigana 7-5, 6-2; Emmanuel Rukundo beat Kapoyo Mwamba 6-4, 6-2, while Anatole Bizimana dispatched France’s Pierre Sader 6-1, 6-0.Burundian duo of Moussa Hakizimana and Issa Cuma made it through to the first round with 6-4, 6-2 and 6-4, 6-2 victories over Rwanda’s Etienne Niyigena and Erneste Karangwa respectively.By press time, seed five Dieudonne Habiyambere was yet to play Janvier Mugwaneza because of the afternoon showers which left the courts soggy.Action continues today with top seeds, who were given byes from the qualifying round starting their quest for a share of the $4500 (Rwf 2.7m) prize money.Seed one Phenyo Matong from Botswana takes on Rwanda’s Eric Uwamahoro while second seed two David Oringa from Uganda faces Anatole Bizimana.Defending champion Jean Claude Gasigwa, seeded three, faces compatriot Melee Bizimana. Seed four Uwizeyimana is up against fellow country mate Eugene Karangwa while Emmanuel Rukundo will face the winner between Habiyambere and Mugwaneza.In the girls’ category, 16 girls begin their pursuit for the top prize. Top seed Caroline Odour from Kenya will square off against Fernada Quiroga of Bolvia and another Kenyan, Evelyn Otula seeded second, comes up against Rwanda’s Cynthia Mukantwali.The tournament attracted 48 players and 32 are still in contention for title in both men and women’s category as first round matches get underway.The winners in the men’s singles stand to pocket $890, $600, $440, $320, $55 and $30 in the descending order while $320 and $220 will be given to winner and runner-up of the doubles’ category.In the women’s singles category, the winner will pocket $680 with runner-ups settling for $390, $330, $55 and $30 while $220 and $110 will be staked for the winner and runner-up in the doubles category.

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Top seeds begin quest for $4500 prize money