By ELIZABETH MBURUGU

Memba Waitherero in action  during a past contest. She partners with Judy Nkatha in quarters doubles today.

Kenya’s Memba Waitherero and Judy Nkatha face a daunting task as they take on Tunisians Chiraz Bechri and Oumeina Charrad in the quarter-finals of the girls’ Under-16 doubles in the ongoing Africa Junior tennis championships at the Nairobi Club today.

The duo carries the hope of the entire country on their shoulders as they are the only surviving Kenyans contesting for main title in the continental tournament.

Speaking to FeverPitch, optimistic Waitherero said they would give their best.

“We are under pressure as the only Kenyans remaining, we will work together as a team and hope to make Kenya proud,” she said.

“We face a tough competitiofrom our opponents, who are very experienced internationally, but we will give it our best, we have trained hard.”

She added that having watched Bechri and Charrad play they have an idea of what to expect in the match and are up to task.      “We watched them play and we are aware of what to expect as we face them, we understand their style of play and we intend to use it to bring them down.”

Waitherero and Nkatha dismissed Rebecca George of Botswana and Claudia Sumaia of Mozambique 6-3 6-0 to book a date with the North Africans.

In the boys Under-14 doubles Kenyans Ryan Randiek and Albert Njogu fell 2-6 3-6 to Zimbabweans Tanaka Chabata and Dennis Moses to bow out of the event.

The duo who have been doing well in the past failed to sparkle, falling easily in the first rounds of the competition.

Kenyans are now left to play in the back draw matches for the country ranking.

Bechri dismissed South African Zani Benard 7-5 6-0 to make it to the semi-finals.

 Zainab Elhiuri of Morocco subjected Nigerian Elizabeth Garos to a humiliating 6-0 6-0 defeat in their girls Under-16 quarter-finals match.

Lee, the second of the Bernard sisters, fell to Egyptian Al Hussein Lamis 1-6 2-6.

Another South African Maja Gledic prevailed 6-1 4-6 6-1 over Aisha Niyonkuru of Burundi.

In the boys Under-14 singles encounter Christian Worst of South Africa saw off Egyptian Aly Galal 6-2 6-0 while Moroccan Soufiane Elmasbahi sent Burundian Shakur Kabura packing 6-1 6-3.

In the back draw matches Vanessa Egessa of Kenya beat Rwandan Chantal Mutuyimana 7-6 (2) 6-4 in the girls under 14.

The Kenyan players are now fighting for a better ranking individually and for the country as well.  

––– emburugu@standardmedia.co.ke