Kenyans JET ail to the semi-finals of ITF/CAT Second Leg circuit

 By Ernest Ndunda

Kenya entered eight players in the semi-finals of the ITF/Cat Tennis Second Leg circuit at the Mombasa Sports Club.

However, Saturday’s matches had to be put on hold following heavy rains, which pounded Mombasa and its environs making the hard courts of the Mombasa Sports Club unplayable.

Kenyan juniors in both boys and girls singles had a field day as they enhanced their chances of improving their ITF rankings by the virtue of making it past the quarter-final stages.

In girls U-12, Prudence Theuri made it to the semi-finals after she defeated Beatrice Shako and Fatiya Shariff both Kenyans 6-3, 6-0 and 7-5, 6-0 respectively.

Another girl to land into the semi-finals was Esther Wahome who dismissed fellow Kenyan Egessa Venessa 6-0, 6-1 to qualify for the semi-finals. Tonia Kubai also dismissed fellow Kenyan Yashvi Radia 6-4, 6-1 to roll to the semis.

Kenya’s Tate-Harte who is based at the ITF Training Centre in Burundi sailed through to the semi-finals after she floored Faith Nyabera and Charity Ayub both of Kenya 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 and 6-4, 6-1 to land into the semi-final.

In boys U-12 singles Keean Shah beat Madagascar’s Rakotobe Hasina 6-3, 6-1 in a quarter-final match to cruise to the semi-finals.

Another Kenyan boy Albert Njogu stopped Irfan Dhanji (Kenya) 6-2, 6-2 on his way to the semi-finals. Jeva Immanuel (Kenya) defeated Randiek Ryan (Kenya) to qualify for the semi-finals.

In boys U-14, Kenya’s and top seeded Nedim Abdallah who had a bye to the quarter-final silenced Aditya Dahiya who is based in Kisumu 6-2, 6-0 to qualify for the semi-finals.

In boys U-12 doubles, Kenya’s pair of Kennedy Musembi and Moses Mwaura lost to Madagascar’s team of Hasina Rakotobe and Ranaivo Toky 6-0, 6-3. Tanzania pair of Mnenard Frenk and Sulle Omari dismissed Kenya’s Nedim and Rwanda’s Fabrice Tuyishime 6-0, 6-3 in another match.

In boys U-14 doubles, Jonathan Mugisha and Kabura Shakur both from Burundi beat Kenya’s pair of Meean Shah and Buran Heytham 6-0, 6-0.

In girls U-14 doubles, Burundians Nahimana Sada and Niyonkuru Aisha easily dismissed Kenya’s team of Faith Nyabera and Charity Ayub 6-1, 6-0. In girls U-12 doubles, Ravoniandro Fitia and Rakotoriani both from Madagascar defeated Kenya’s pair of Prudence Theuri and Esther Wahome 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

The tournament referee Eli Madegwa said that the semi-finals would be played this morning with the finals later in the afternoon.