Gasigwa retains title

FinalMen’s singlesJ. Gasigwa bt. D. Habiyambere 4-6, 6-3, 6-3Women’s singlesC. Odour (Ken) bt. E. Otula (Ken) 0-6, 7-5, 7-5DEFENDING champion Jean Claude Gasigwa beat compatriot Dieudonne Habiyambere in the final to win his second successive ITF/CAT Prize money circuit yesterday at Umubano courts.Gasigwa lost the opening set 4-6 but made a remarkable comeback to win, 6-3, 6-3 in-front of a fairly packed crowd.After going behind, seed three Gasigwa upped his game in the second set with combination lobs and delicate drop shots and then wrapped up victory by forcing his fifth seeded opponent into a wild backhand that landed in the tramlines on his third match point.Former Rwanda’s number one Habiyambere, with more powerful shots, lost concentration after losing the second set and the third set was even easier for Gasigwa. Playing with an injured right arm wrist, Habiyambere tried to pile pressure on a confident Gasigwa but he committed a string of unforced errors which helped his rival to close out the match following another errant forehand from the former champion in one hour and 30 minutes.After a deserved victory, Gasigwa said, “I am really happy for the victory. I fought hard for this opportunity. My experience and better tactics helped me to win this final.” “Habiyambere is a tough opponent with good tactics but I think I was more focused and played better than him today and I think I deserve it,” added Gasigwa.For his effort, Gasigwa, 27, took the top money prize of US$890 and a further $200 from sponsor s Gatumba mining company, while Habiyambere walked away with US$600.In the women category, it was a Kenyan affair with the defending champion Caroline Odour successfully retaining her title following a 0-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory over veteran Evelyn Otula. It was a hard-fought victory for Odour, who pocketed US$880and, while Otula settled for US$390.In the doubles’ category, Habiyambere paired up with Olivier Nkunda to win the contest with a 1-6 6-2 10-6 victory over Phenyo Matong and Issa Cuma of Botswana and Burundi. Habiyambere and Nkunda shared $320 with Matong and Cuma settling for Rwanda’s $220.In the women’s category, Gisele Umumararungu and Megan Ingabire beat Kenyan pair of Caroline Odour and Evelyn Otula 6-2 6-3 to win the contest.Umumararungu and Ingabire pocketed $220, while Odour and Otula went home with $110.After the ITF/CAT Prize Money Circuit, most of the players will be bracing for the ITF Men’s Futures which will be staged in Kigali in early November.

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Gasigwa retains title