Habiyambere lifts Nyarutarama Open title

Rwanda’s second-ranked tennis star Dieudonne Habiyambere claimed the professional men’s singles title of the inaugural Nyarutarama Open after his rival and country’s top-ranked player Jean Claude Gasigwa pulled out with a shoulder injury.The 30-year old Gasigwa abandoned the match with the score level at 5-5 games apiece in the first set effectively handing the title to Habiyambere.Gasigwa picked up the injury during the ITF/CAT money circuit final match last Friday which he won in three sets 6-4, 4-6 and 7-5 over Uganda’s David Oringa to clinch a record seventh title.“Of course I am happy to win the first edition of this tournament but, sadly, it came in a way you wouldn’t wish…when your opponent gets injured; I wish JC well and hope he recovers fast,” Habiyambere told Times Sport.In women’s professional category, it was also a clash of the country’s top layers Megan Ingabire and Gisele Umumararungu and it is the second seed, Ingabire, who took the title with a straight sets victory 6-4, 6-0.In amateurs’ competitions, Fidele Kamanzi Bayama dominated in both singles and doubles winning 6-4, 6-1 over Aimable Mugarura for singles’ title before teaming up with Innocent Gashugi to win 6-4, 6-3 over the pair of Aimable Mugarura and Raphael in the doubles’ category.The winners in the professionals’ category (both genders) pocketed Rwf100, 000; the losing finalists walked away with Rwf80, 000; while the semifinalists took Rwf60, 000 each.In amateurs, champions were awarded air tickets to South Africa and Uganda; losing finalists were awarded trophies, with semifinalists walking away with dozens of tennis balls.

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Habiyambere lifts Nyarutarama Open title