Kenya off to flying start: Kotecha, Changawa and Kibet in perfect wins

Kenya's Ishmael Chang'awa during Britam Tennis tournament doubles match at Nairobi club on tuesday, June 27, 2017. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

No let-up as the locals seek glory in the Davis Cup Africa Zone tournament.

Kenyans launched their Davis Cup Africa Zone Group 3 Tennis Championships quest on a high thanks to a superb 3-0 win over Botswana at the Solaimaneyah Club in Cairo, Egypt, on Monday night.

The Kenyan team of Sheil Kotecha, Ismail Changawa and Ibrahim Kibet was in excellent form as it overpowered the Batswana in their opening Group B ties on the first day of the competition.

Kotecha was the first on court and he did not disappoint as he defeated Botswana’s Lefa Ashley Sibanda in the opening match. He was in impressive form and required just one hour and 16 minutes to send Sibanda packing with a 6-2, 6-2 victory. With that win, Kenya led 1-0.

Changawa, who is Kenya’s top-ranked player in the tournament, was the second on the field and wasted no time in making light work of Botswana’s Innocent Tidimane.

Changawa won 6-0, 6-0. In that match, the Kenyan star handed Tidimane, who was playing his first ever Davis Cup singles match, a debut he will want to forget fast. The 17-year-old Tidimane had before Monday night only featured in the doubles.

With Changawa’s win, Kenya took a comfortable 2-0 lead against the southerners. The Kenyan duo of Changawa and Kibet then teamed up in the doubles clash against Aobakwe Lekang and Bayan Moilwa.

They had no problem winning 6-1, 6-1 to crown a successful day. Team coach Rosemary Owino was delighted with the good start, saying the results would boost her players’ confidence.

“It is very important to start well in any competition and I’m glad we made it happen. The boys were fantastic and if we keep up the spirit, we will surely gain that promotion,” Owino said on phone from Cairo.

Lady winner

She added that they expected stiffer competition in subsequent matches but remained optimistic that her charges would perform even better.

“The competition will get tougher in our next matches but we are equal to the task and ready to give our all.”

Kenya is in Group B and was set to play Algeria last night. The players will have to beat Algeria, Benin and Libya, who are also in their group, for a chance to earn a promotion to Group 2 of the Tennis World Cup.

Group A has favourites and hosts Egypt, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Nigeria. The top team in each group will be promoted to Group 2.