ITF final a home affair

Semis MenD. Habiyambere (Rwa) bt. M. Uwizeyimana (Rwa) 7-5 3-6 6-1J.C Gasigwa (Rwa) bt. P. Matong (Bot) 4-6 6-3 6-3WomenE. Otula (Ken) bt. G. Umumararungu (Rwa) 7-6 (5) 7-5C. Odour (Ken) bt. S. Changawa (Ken) 7-5 6-3FinalMenD. Habiyambere (Rwa) vs J.C Gasigwa (Rwa)WomenC. Odour (Ken) vs. E. Otula (Ken)JEAN Claude Gasigwa remained on course to defend his ITF/CAT Money circuit title with a two-set semi-final victory over Bostwana’s Phenyo Matong yesterday at Umubano Courts.Third seed Gasigwa was favourite to cruise to the final but top seed Matong eventually posed a challenge before the former won 4-6 6-3 6-3.In a match that lasted for two hours and fifteen minutes, Matong made Gasigwa work hard after a one-sided first set but the Rwandan maintained his grip in the second set to quickly lead 6-3.He then held on to his serve and claimed the victory on his first match point with a last forehand winner.Seed five Dieudonné Habiyambere ousted seed four Mathieu Uwizeyimana 7-5 3-6 6-1 to book a place in the final.Habiyambere relied on his powerful first serve to grab the first set though the pair had a tricky and remarkable game. Uwizeyimana secured the second set winner easily.Habiyambere fought back to dominate the third set, forcing a visibly tired Uwizeyimana into some extended baseline rallies.Uwizeyimana hung on in the deciding set but the breakthrough came in the last game when he struck a forehand wide to give Habiyambere the advantage.Gasigwa and Habiyambere will meet in an all-Rwandan final. Both players last met in the final of last year’s edition with Habiyambere beating Gasigwa to win the first leg edition and then Gasigwa reiterated to deny the former a chance to reach the final when he knocked him out in the semi finals.In the women category, veteran Evelyn Otula (Kenya) beat Rwanda’s Gisèle Umumararungu 7-6 (5) 7-5 to set up a final against defending champion Caroline Odour who easily dispatched Shuffa Changawa 7-5 6-3 – both from Kenya.The finalists will be vying for US$890 and US$600 in the men’s singles, while in women singles, players will stand to pocket US$680 and US$390.

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ITF final a home affair