Local quartet in ITF semis

ITF/CAT Money circuitSemi-final, TodayMenD. Habiyambere (Rwa) vs. M. Uwizeyimana (Rwa) J.C Gasigwa (Rwa) vs. P. Matong (Bot)WomenG. Umumararungu (Rwa) vs. E. Otula (Ken)C. Odour (Ken) vs. S. Changawa (Ken)RWANDA’s top seeds Jean Claude Gasigwa, Mathieu Uwizeyimana, Dieudonné Habiyambere and Gisèle Umumararungu saw off a stiff challenge to march into the semi finals of ITF/CAT Money Circuit yesterday at Umubano Courts.Defending champion Jean Claude Gasigwa eased into the semi finals with a 6-4 7-5 win over Burundi’s Issa Cuma. Upcoming teenage Mathieu Uwizeyimana had a tougher time subduing Olivier Havugimana 6-3 6-2.Last year’s semi finalist, Dieudonné Habiyambere overcame more problems with his serve to beat Uganda’s stubborn David Oringa 6-4 3-6 6-4 in a match which lasted nearly three hours.Habiyambere finished the match with an ace but double-faults on big points cost him the second set which the Ugandan won. Habiyambere returned back more composed to win the third set when Oringa made some errors to give Habiyambere a commanding 6-4 lead.In another quarter final contest, top seed Phenyo Matong of Bostwana made light the work of Olivier Nkunda, 6-4 6-2 to book his last four berth.In today’s semi final action, Gasigwa takes on Matong while Habiyambere will face home boy Uwizeyimana in another exciting piece of action.In the women’s category, Gisele Umumararungu beat Tanzania’s Rehema Athumani to set up a semi final clash against Evelyn Otula who defeated Megane Ingabire 6-2 6-4.Defending champion Caroline Odour beat ruthless Olive Tuyisenge 6-0 6-0 to set up a tough Kenyan semi final against Shufaa Changawa who saw off Fridaus Ciza 6-2 6-3.The semi finalists will be vying for US$890, US$600, US$440, US$320 in the men’s singles, while in women singles, players will stand to pocket US$680,US$390, US$330, US$55.

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Local quartet in ITF semis